US Secret Service 'deeply grateful' to Police Scotland ahead of Trump visit

The United States Secret Service has expressed its “deep gratitude” to Police Scotland ahead of Donald Trump’s visit.

The agency in charge of protecting the US President said its operation in Scotland would not be possible without Police Scotland, which has called in a huge amount of police resources for the weekend ahead.

The policing operation will be the biggest the force has faced since the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 2022.

Plans are currently in place to involve local, national, and specialist officers from not only Police Scotland but also other forces across the UK.

Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications at the United States Secret Service, told STV News: “While we are not able to get into the specifics of our protective operations, the safety and security of the President of the United States is the core of our mission.

Politics

First Minister ‘confident’ in Police Scotland ahead of Donald Trump visit

The US President will visit Scotland for the first time during his second term this week.

“Every movement is meticulously planned and coordinated, and we could not fulfil this responsibility without the vital support of our federal, military and international partners, including Police Scotland.

“We are deeply grateful for their unwavering support and partnership during this visit.”

Although Trump’s first visit since being voted in for a second term is “complex”, the large-scale operation is something Police Scotland are “very experienced” in dealing with, according assistant chief constable Emma Bond.

Bond said the force expects protests across the country in response to Trump’s visits with police working on the assumption that there will be activity in Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The 47th President of the United States will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer while in Aberdeen, while plans are being put in place for him to meet First Minister John Swinney.