EPAUS Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in Scotland during his visit to the UK.
Vance is on a private family holiday, and will stay in a plush country estate in the outskirts of Kilmarnock in Ayrshire.
The vice-president arrived on Air Force Two at Prestwick Airport and was expected to be driven a short distance to Hulford in a motorcade.
His arrival comes just weeks after President Donald Trump was in Scotland, where he played golf on his courses at Turnberry and in Aberdeenshire.
Vance will stay at Carnell Estates, a privately owned estate which has a 14th century tower and 10-bedroom mansion situated on over 2,000 acres of land.
The estate is about a 40-minute drive away from Trump’s Turnberry golf club.
Police Scotland previously confirmed they had plans in place for “a significant policing operation.”
Officers were seen at the estate ahead of Vance’s arrival on Wednesday and some road closures were in place.
A number of protests are expected to take place during the visit, including one outside Carnell Estate.
On Tuesday, Vance met US troops stationed at the Royal Air Force Base in Fairford, Gloucestershire, where he received a briefing on the base’s capabilities.
While not on official White House business, he met David Lammy for talks about Gaza and other international affairs at the foreign secretary’s official residence, Chevening House, in Kent on Friday.
Lammy has since referred himself to a watchdog after photos emerged of the pair fishing without the correct license.
Vance also met Conservative MP’s Robert Jenrick and Chris Philp and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
PA MediaEarlier this year the vice-president criticised Scotland over buffer zones which prevent demonstrations or vigils taking place close to abortion clinics.
He used the new law as an example of Europe not protecting free speech enough and used a speech in Munich to claim “even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law”.
Gillian Mackay, the MSP behind the legislation, said at the time the comments were inaccurate.
She said: “This is shocking and shameless misinformation from VP Vance, who is either very badly informed about what my Act has done or he is knowingly misrepresenting it.”
However, Vance has also described himself as a “Scots-Irish hillbilly at heart” in the past, with his ancestors having moved to the Appalachian region in the US more than three centuries ago.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “The Scottish government continues to work collaboratively with partners, including the UK government and Police Scotland, to manage the impact of a potential visit by the US Vice President to Scotland.”
