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

Significant Provisional Costs Disclosed

Provisional costs amounting to nearly £24.5 million for the two official trips have been made public by the administration in Edinburgh.

Public Finance Minister McKee labeled the UK government's refusal to offer financial support as "ridiculous," stating that both trips were obviously official, noting that the American leader held discussions with EU Commission president the EU's von der Leyen and UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer during his July visit in the northern nation.

Particulars of the Visits and Related Security Expenses

The former president visited his golfing resorts at Turnberry and Menie over a five-day period in July, while US vice-president Vance spent around four days in Ayrshire in August.

In a written communication to the Treasury minister Chief Secretary Murray, Scotland’s finance secretary stated that the visits placed "significant strains and costs on public services in Scotland, particularly the Scottish police force."

The Edinburgh administration calculates that the provisional cost for policing the president's trip alone was £21 million, which involved peak daily deployments of over four thousand police, while costs for the vice-president’s trip were about £3 million.

Complex Security Mission

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

Robison stated: "After your decision not to provide funding to the Scottish government for expenses accrued in connection with the trip of Donald Trump to the nation in July 2025 and the following trip of Vice-President JD Vance, I am contacting you to request that you review this stance and offer full reimbursement for the expense of the visits."

UK Government Response and Past Precedent

The British administration stated that the trips were personal and "not official UK government business." A representative commented: "Holyrood must cover security expenses 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 the president's 2018 trip to the nation, it is understood that trip followed a formal UK government invitation, in which instance it included protection expenses under its statement of funding policy.

"Westminster needs to step up and cover the cost. I think it’s unreasonable, it was obviously a work visit … Especially when you have the prime minister Keir Starmer meeting with Donald Trump, holding joint briefings with them, conducting global diplomacy with him, its really stretching the bounds of credibility to say this was just a private holiday trip."