![\"Reuters](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/b94b\/live\/b36c16e0-76bc-11f0-a634-158c6f07b29d.jpg.webp\")
Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nPolice Scotland is preparing for a potential visit to the country by US Vice President JD Vance.<\/p>\n The force said a “significant policing operation” would be deployed for Vance, who is visiting with his family in a private capacity.<\/p>\n It is understood the vice-president could be in Ayrshire later this week.<\/p>\n His arrival comes just weeks after President Donald Trump was in Scotland<\/a>, where he played golf on his courses in Troon and Aberdeenshire.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Planning is under way for a potential visit to Scotland by the Vice President of the United States.<\/p>\n “Details of any visit would be for the White House to comment on, however it is important that we prepare in advance for what would be a significant policing operation.”<\/p>\n Vance and his family were in Kent last week, where they stayed at Chevening House, the official residence of the foreign secretary, before spending time in the Cotswolds.<\/p>\n On Friday he raised questions about the UK’s plans to recognise a Palestinian state<\/a>, during a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy.<\/p>\n The two men also went carp fishing together. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Earlier this year the vice-president criticised Scotland<\/a> over buffer zones which prevent demonstrations or vigils taking place close to abortion clinics. <\/p>\n 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”.<\/p>\n Those comments brought a rebuke from Gillian Mackay<\/a>, the MSP behind the legislation, who said they were inaccurate. <\/p>\n She said at the time: “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.”<\/p>\n However, Vance has also described himself as a “Scots-Irish hillbilly at heart”<\/a> in the past, with his ancestors having moved to the Appalachian region more than three centuries ago. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20250728-162205-9b8a2dcb37-web-2.26.0-8\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"Five](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5baa\/live\/13dad390-76bd-11f0-a634-158c6f07b29d.jpg.webp\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n