Trump's Trip to Scotland Could Cost Taxpayers £3 Million as 5,000 Officers May be Deployed for Security

US President Donald Trump's upcoming five-day jaunt to Scotland from 25 to 29 July is causing quite a stir as it is set to cost UK taxpayers an estimated £3 million ($4 million) for a large-scale and complex security operation involving up to 5,000 Police Scotland officers and 1,000 additional personnel from UK forces.

The trip, which includes visits to Trump's golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeenshire, has sparked concern over its financial burden and impact on local policing, with preparations likened to those for the late Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022.

Security Operation on Unprecedented Scale

Police Scotland has mobilised Operation Roll 2, described as the most extensive policing effort since the Queen's funeral, to ensure the safety of the US President during his visit.

The deployment includes 84 protest liaison officers, specialist firearms units, and helicopters, with 10ft perimeter fencing erected around Trump's Turnberry resort.

The operation accounts for heightened risks, including a recent assassination attempt on Trump in July 2024, prompting a ring of steel security approach.

Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond, the gold commander for the operation, confirmed that approximately 5,000 Scottish officers will be supported by 1,000 personnel from other UK forces under mutual aid arrangements.

'We've got an experienced team of officers, and I'm confident the operation is proportionate to keep the president safe,' Bond told Sky News.

Financial and Resource Strain

The £3 million ($4 million) cost, funded by the UK Treasury, has drawn criticism amid Police Scotland's strained resources, with officer numbers at a near-historic low of 16,500.

David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, warned of a recipe for disaster, citing concerns over extended 12-hour shifts and cancelled leave.

'There are breaches taking place within those workforce agreements which we are deeply concerned about,' Kennedy told BBC.

X posts reflect public frustration, with @Stornoway_Cove stating, 'It's a personal visit to his golf courses, so why are we, the Scottish taxpayers, having to pay for his protection?'

Similarly, @AWumman questioned, 'Why should UK taxpayers pay for his golf trip? Police aren't paid to be his bodyguards.'

The Scottish Police Authority has allocated £350,182 ($473,722) for security barriers and fencing, adding to the financial burden.

Protests and Political Implications

Trump's visit, which includes meetings with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney, is expected to attract significant protests, further complicating policing efforts.

The Stop Trump Coalition has planned a festival of resistance, with demonstrations anticipated in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, similar to those during Trump's 2018 visit when a paraglider breached a no-fly zone over Turnberry with a banner reading 'Trump: well below par.'

'It's a personal visit to his golf courses, so why are we, the Scottish taxpayers having to pay for his protection?,' @Stornoway_Cove posted on X on 22 July 2025.

The visit coincides with Trump's opening of a new 18-hole golf course in Aberdeenshire, named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump.

Critics argue the trip blends personal and official duties, raising questions about the appropriateness of taxpayer funding.

The deployment of thousands of officers and the substantial cost underscore the challenges of balancing security needs with public resources, particularly as Police Scotland navigates workforce constraints and public discontent over funding a high-profile visit.