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

Significant Estimated Expenses Disclosed

Preliminary costs totalling almost £24.5 million for the pair of working visits have been published by the Scottish government.

Public Finance Minister McKee labeled the Westminster's unwillingness to offer financial support as "ridiculous," stating that both visits were obviously work-related, noting that the US president held meetings with EU Commission president the EU's von der Leyen and UK prime minister Keir Starmer during his July stay in the northern nation.

Details of the Visits and Associated Security Expenses

The former president toured his golfing resorts at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie over a five-day trip in July, while American VP JD Vance spent approximately a long weekend in Ayrshire in late summer.

In a written communication to the Treasury’s chief secretary Chief Secretary Murray, Finance Secretary Shona Robison stated that the trips placed "significant operational and financial burdens on Scottish public services, especially the Scottish police force."

The Scottish government estimates that the estimated expense for securing the presidential visit by itself was £21m, which involved maximum daily assignments of more than four thousand police, while costs for the VP's visit were approximately £3m.

Complex Security Mission

This extensive policing operation was the biggest in Scotland since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and included local officers, specialist units, special constables and officers from across the UK for expert assistance.

Robison wrote: "After your choice not to offer financial support to Scotland for expenses accrued in connection with the trip of President Donald Trump to the nation in summer 2025 and the subsequent trip of VP Vance, I am writing you to ask that you review this decision and provide complete repayment for the cost of the visits."

Westminster Reply and Past Precedent

The British administration maintained that the visits were private and "not part of official government duties." A representative added: "Holyrood are responsible for security expenses in the country as per agreed devolved funding arrangements."

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 official UK government invitation, in which instance it included protection expenses under its funding guidelines.

"The UK government must take action and cover the cost. I think it’s ridiculous, it was clearly a official trip … Particularly when you have the prime minister Keir Starmer spending time with Donald Trump, having press conferences with them, engaging in international business with him, its really hard to believe to say this was just a personal vacation."