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The British administration is being urged to "step up" and reimburse the £24.5 million expense incurred during recent trips by former President Trump and JD Vance to the Scottish nation, according to a top Scottish minister.

Substantial Provisional Costs Revealed

Provisional expenses amounting to nearly £24.5 million for the two working visits have been made public by the administration in Edinburgh.

Ivan McKee described the Westminster's unwillingness to offer financial support as "ridiculous," stating that both trips were obviously work-related, noting that the US president held discussions with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and British PM Sir Keir Starmer during his July visit in Scotland.

Details of the Visits and Associated Security Expenses

Donald Trump visited his golfing resorts at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire over a week-long trip in July, while US vice-president Vance spent approximately four days in Ayrshire in August.

In a written communication to the Treasury’s chief secretary Chief Secretary Murray, Scotland’s finance secretary wrote that the trips placed "substantial operational and financial burdens on Scottish public services, especially the Scottish police force."

The Scottish government estimates that the provisional cost for securing the presidential visit alone was £21m, which involved maximum daily assignments of over four thousand police, while expenses for the VP's visit were approximately £3m.

Complex Security Mission

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

Robison stated: "Following your decision not to provide funding to Scotland for costs incurred in connection with the trip of Donald Trump to the nation in summer 2025 and the following visit of Vice-President Vance, I am writing you to request that you review this decision and provide complete repayment for the expense of the visits."

UK Government Reply and Previous Example

The UK government stated that the visits were private and "not part of official government duties." A spokesperson commented: "The Scottish government must cover security expenses in Scotland as per agreed devolved funding arrangements."

While the Finance Secretary referenced previous precedent where the British administration covered the expense of the president's 2018 trip to Scotland, it is understood that visit followed a formal UK government invitation, in which case it included protection expenses under its statement of funding policy.

"Westminster must take action and pay. I think it’s ridiculous, it was obviously a official trip … Particularly when you have the prime minister Keir Starmer meeting with Donald Trump, having press conferences with him, engaging in global diplomacy with them, its really stretching the bounds of credibility to say this was just a private holiday trip."