Security costs of Trump visit to Scotland sparks outrage among Scottish citizens

Scottish citizens expressed anger toward the British government on Saturday after it was reported that his visit to the country this weekend cost 5 million euros — roughly $5.8 million.

Many took to social media to demand that British authorities foot the hefty bill for security costs incurred by the president’s trip.

The Daily Mail reported that Scotland’s Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf wrote a letter to British Home Secretary Sajid Javid last month arguing that the government “must not” leave Scottish police with the nearly $6 million security bill.

“Have written to Home Sect @sajidjavid to tell him that it is unfair & unacceptable that Police Scotland is being asked to foot the bill for President Trump’s potential visit to Scotland,” Yousaf wrote on Twitter last month. “He is coming as a guest of the UK Govt, they must not leave @policescotland with a £5m bill.”

Have written to Home Sect @sajidjavid to tell him that it is unfair & unacceptable that Police Scotland is being asked to foot the bill for President Trump’s potential visit to Scotland.

He is coming as a guest of the UK Govt, they must not leave @policescotland with a £5m bill https://t.co/aqkF8m44o5

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) June 29, 2018

Other Scotlanders agreed, according to the Mail, and called on the British government to bill the U.S. for security costs incurred while Trump visited his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.

“I hope they hand Trump the bill for the costs of his security at least for covering his golfing weekend it Scotland, with the caveat, pay up (cash in advance – no rubber cheques) or we’ll send the security home now!” one Scotlander said, according to the newspaper.

{mosads}

“It would be a good thing to get exact costs and published receipts of just how much money was spent at Trump’s Scotland County Club. Every penny. We’re getting tired of having our noses rubbed in it,” added another.

Earlier this month Britain’s chief treasurer responded, tweeting that the government had agreed to pay for the security costs, earmarking £5m for Trump’s visit.

“I have confirmed that should President Trump visit Scotland, we would provide funding to the Scottish Government to cover the policing costs incurred,” tweeted Chief Treasurer Liz Truss.