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

Significant Provisional Costs Disclosed

Provisional costs amounting to almost £24.5m for the two working visits have been published by the Scottish government.

Ivan McKee labeled the Westminster's unwillingness to provide funding as "absurd," arguing that both trips were obviously official, noting that the American leader held discussions with EU Commission president the EU's von der Leyen and British PM Sir Keir Starmer during his July visit in Scotland.

Particulars of the Trips and Related Policing Costs

Donald Trump visited his golf courses at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire over a week-long trip in July, while American VP Vance spent around a long weekend in the Ayrshire region in August.

In a formal letter to the Treasury’s chief secretary Chief Secretary Murray, Scotland’s finance secretary wrote that the trips placed "substantial operational and financial burdens on public services in Scotland, especially Police Scotland."

The Scottish government estimates that the provisional cost for securing the president's trip alone was £21m, which involved peak daily deployments of over 4,000 officers, while costs for the VP's visit were approximately £3m.

Large-Scale Policing Operation

This extensive security mission was the largest in Scotland since the passing of the late Queen in 2022, and included local officers, national divisions, special constables and officers from across the UK for specialist support.

Robison wrote: "After your choice not to offer financial support to Scotland for expenses accrued in connection with the trip of Donald Trump to Scotland in July 2025 and the following visit of Vice-President Vance, I am writing you to request that you reconsider this decision and provide full reimbursement for the cost of the visits."

UK Government Reply and Past Precedent

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

While Robison referenced previous precedent where the British administration covered the expense of Trump’s 2018 visit to Scotland, it is believed that trip followed a official invitation from Westminster, in which instance it covered security costs under its funding guidelines.

"Westminster must take action and cover the cost. I think it’s ridiculous, it was obviously a official trip … Especially when you have the PM Sir Keir spending time with Donald Trump, having press conferences with him, engaging in global diplomacy with him, its really hard to believe to say this was merely a private holiday trip."