Scotland should not foot the bill for Trump costs
Scotland should not have to pay a penny for the public costs associated with visits by Donald Trump and JD Vance, say the Scottish Greens.
The call comes as the Scottish and UK governments are reported to be in dispute about who should pick up the £26 million price tag for recent visits by the two men.
The party’s Co-leader Gillian Mackay said:
“Donald Trump and JD Vance represent an extreme and toxic brand of politics that is not welcome here.
“They have torn apart families and communities, attacked women’s rights, and armed the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
“Scotland did not ask for these visits or the upheaval they brought, and we should not pay a penny towards them. If there is any question as to who should pay it should be between the White House and Downing Street.
“If Donald Trump was over here for a holiday or on a business trip, then the White House should be reimbursing Police Scotland. If he was here on a diplomatic visit then clearly the UK Government should be picking up the tab.
“It was Keir Starmer who personally rolled out the red carpet and shuttled himself straight to Trump's side when he arrived. He can't appease men like Trump and Vance while expecting it to be funded by the Scottish taxpayer.
“At a time when so many people are struggling to get by, it is harder to think of a worse way to spend £26 million than on visits from a racist and misogynistic administration that we never invited in the first place.”