Donald Trump’s unprecedented UK second state visit cost police more than £14m, The i Paper can reveal – around three times more than his first one in 2019.
The visit in September was the biggest security operation in Britain since the coronation of King Charles, coming just days after the assassination of right-wing US commentator Charlie Kirk, and a year after the attempted assassination of Trump himself.
The cost – which will ultimately fall on taxpayers – was revealed as the Government faced criticism over its handling of the US President during global events.
In contrast, Trump’s 2019 official trip cost the Metropolitan Police £3.4m, which would be £4.4m today after inflation.
His second state visit – unprecedented for a non-royal – had been seen as a the height of a charm offensive by Sir Keir Starmer amid concerns over Trump’s stance on Ukraine and his threat to impose tariffs on the UK.
The President stayed at Windsor Castle, with the security operation led by Thames Valley Police, the local force, who declined to say how many officers had been deployed. Officers from across the UK were also drafted in, including more than 6,000 from the Metropolitan Police alone.
Police snipers and drones were deployed, along with boat patrols and mounted units, and armed officers swarmed Windsor in a round-the-clock security operation.
A ring of steel was placed around the Berkshire town and the US ambassador’s London residence, Winfield House, where Trump spent one night.
According to figures released to The i Paper under the Freedom of Information Act, the total cost to Thames Valley Police was £8,244,224. The force is now in the process of recovering the costs from central government.
Additionally, Scotland Yard spent more than £6.6m, including £433,358 on overtime, £12,437 on fleet costs, which covers expenses on police vehicles, and £27,935 on hotels.
Armed officers deployed to Windsor Castle during Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK (Photo: Paul Ellis / AFP)Almost £960,000 was spent on mutual aid, which is the provision of policing assistance from one force to another during a major incident or event.
Senior Labour figures and opposition MPs have criticised the cost to the taxpayer and the decision to grant a second state visit.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell told The i Paper: “When we have a crisis in social care I would rather spend these millions of pounds on caring for our own people than pandering to the ego of a narcissistic bully like Trump.”
Diane Abbott, ex-shadow home secretary, said: “All state visits are costly. But this seems ridiculously expensive. And all we get from Trump is criticism, threats and tariffs, so there should be no more state visits for him.”
The Liberal Democrat MP for Maidenhead in Berkshire, Joshua Reynolds, said: “We are rolling out the red carpet whilst Donald Trump threatens one of our closest Nato allies – you wouldn’t invite the schoolyard bully round for dinner.
“The Thames Valley taxpayer isn’t exactly getting a great bang for their buck.”
During Trump’s state visit, the Government unveiled £150bn worth of US investment which it hopes will create 7,600 jobs
King Charles and Trump review the Guard of Honour during the ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle (Photo:Jonathan Brady/PA)Meanwhile, the Scottish and UK Governments are battling over who should pay the £24.4m policing cost of Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Scotland last summer.
That figure means the combined policing cost of UK visits from Trump’s White House last year is at least £39m.
At Westminster, Labour MPs are calling for Starmer to push back more against Trump’s erratic demands. The Prime Minister secured a win after Trump U-turned on his threat to impose tariffs on Nato allies who he accused of attempting to stand in the way of his plot to seize Greenland.
Trump also attacked Starmer directly over the Government’s Chagos Islands deal, branding it an act of “great stupidity”, despite agreeing to it last year.
The US President’s armoured limousine,’The Beast’, departs from Winfield House, during Donald Trump’s state visit (Photo: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)On Wednesday, Starmer hit back, accusing Trump of changing his view on the future of the Indan Ocean islands for “the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain in relation to my values and principles on the future of Greenland”.
In a robust address to MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions, he said: “He wants me to yield on my position and I’m not going to do so.”
A Government spokesperson said: “State visits, especially those by our closest allies, create opportunities to strengthen alliances, support trade and investment, encourage innovation and research collaboration, and reinforce the United Kingdom’s global influence.”
How the costs compare to earlier visits
The US President’s first state visit to the UK in 2019 cost the Metropolitan Police £3.4m, which would be £4.4m today once inflation is taken into account.
More than 6,300 police officers were deployed, most during Trump’s two-day stay in London which saw a large protest against him. Trump was hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace and stayed at Winfield House.
The cost of policing a three-day working trip to the UK by Trump in 2018 drained almost £14.2m from the public purse, just under £19m in today’s prices.
Hence then, the article about trump state visit security bill was triple his 2019 trip was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Trump state visit security bill was triple his 2019 trip )
Also on site :
- Belgium corrects US on ‘peace board’ claim
- Why is South Africa upset about Iran joining BRICS naval drills?
- Numbrix 9 - January 23