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The British administration is being called upon to "take responsibility" and cover the £24.5m expense incurred during the recent visits by former President Trump and Vice-President Vance to Scotland, according to a top Holyrood official.

Substantial Provisional Costs Revealed

Preliminary expenses amounting to almost £24.5m for the pair of official trips have been published by the Scottish government.

Public Finance Minister McKee described the Westminster's refusal to provide funding as "ridiculous," arguing that both visits were clearly work-related, pointing out that the US president held meetings with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and British PM Sir Keir Starmer during his July stay in the northern nation.

Particulars of the Visits and Associated Security Expenses

Donald Trump visited his golf courses at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie over a five-day trip in the summer, while American VP JD Vance spent around a long weekend in Ayrshire in late summer.

In a formal letter to the Treasury’s chief secretary Chief Secretary Murray, Finance Secretary Shona Robison wrote that the trips placed "significant strains and costs on Scottish public services, particularly the Scottish police force."

The Edinburgh administration estimates that the estimated expense for policing the presidential visit by itself was £21 million, which reflected maximum daily assignments of over four thousand police, while costs for the vice-president’s trip were about £3m.

Large-Scale Security Mission

This complex security mission was the largest in the country since the passing of the late Queen in 2022, and involved regional police, national divisions, special constables and officers from across the UK for expert assistance.

Robison wrote: "Following your decision not to offer financial support to Scotland for costs accrued in connection with the trip of Donald Trump to Scotland in summer 2025 and the subsequent visit of VP JD Vance, I am contacting you to ask that you review this decision and offer complete repayment for the expense of the trips."

UK Government Reply and Past Precedent

The British administration maintained that the trips were personal and "not part of official government duties." A spokesperson commented: "The Scottish government are responsible for policing costs in the country as per agreed funding agreements for devolved matters."

While the Finance Secretary referenced previous precedent where the British administration covered the cost of Trump’s 2018 visit to the nation, it is believed that visit followed a official UK government invitation, in which instance it covered protection expenses under its funding guidelines.

"The UK government must take action and cover the cost. I think it’s unreasonable, it was obviously a official trip … Especially when you have the prime minister Keir Starmer meeting with the president, having press conferences with him, engaging in international business with them, its really stretching the bounds of credibility to say this was just a private holiday trip."