The United States’ consulate looks set to fall victim to Elon Musk’s chainsaw as Donald Trump’s administration earmarks it for closure amid a wave of spending cuts.
Leaked US government plans revealed the American presence in Edinburgh is set to end after more than 200 years as part of a raft of closures designed to save money.
It comes as the Mr Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency makes dramatic attempts to slash the size of the US state.
The consulate, which has been in Edinburgh’s Regent Terrace for the past 74 years, provides services for American citizens in Scotland and helps maintain cultural and business ties.
Staff based at the building played a vital role in responding to the Lockerbie disaster in 1988, with the consulate’s American officials and local staff racing to the scene and working there in the weeks and months after.
In leaked internal documents, reported by various US media outlets, some 10 embassies and 17 consulates are recommended to be shut – they include five consulates in France and the one in Edinburgh.
Tammy Bruce, spokesman at the US Department of State, did not deny the authenticity of the documents but insisted there was ‘no final plan, final budget, final dynamic’.
She said: ‘That is up to the White House and the President of the United States as they continue to work on their budget plan and what they will submit to Congress.
The American presence in Edinburgh is set to end after more than 200 years as part of a raft of closures spearheaded by Elon Musk
‘What we tend to see is reporting that is early, or wrong, or based on leaked documents from somewhere unknown.
‘It would be wise to be cautious before acting on every single element you see leading up to something as important as this budget coming in from President Trump.’
There has been an American presence in Edinburgh since 1798, and it was among a large number of consulates the US established during the closing years of the 18th century.
The first known address for the consulate was in James’ Place, next to Leith Links, before moving to various addresses around the city.
In 1951 in settled at the current address, which is near the Scottish Government headquarters and Edinburgh’s Old Royal High School.
But it could be the last. Other American outposts which look set to close, according to reports, include those in Malta, Luxembourg, and the Central African Republic.
The move is part of aggressive attempts to slash government spending from the Trump administration.
Mr Musk, who gleefully posed on stage with a chainsaw after being handed it by Argentine president Javier Milei at a conservative conference, has also been pushing spending cuts.
The US consulate in Edinburgh’s Regent Terrace
Holding the machine in the air last in February, Mr Musk declared: ‘This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy. Chainsaw!’
Former SNP MP Hannah Bardell, who had worked at the Edinburgh consulate when Barack Obama was in office, said the closure would be a ‘devastating blow’.
The nationalist said: ‘Consulates provide vital support to citizens and businesses, and more broadly foster important cultural relationships and understanding.
‘Diplomatically they are a vital place for governments to exchange views, disagree and lobby on issues.’
It is not the first time the Scottish consulate has been under threat. In 1995 it was slated for closure amid deep cuts to American budgets.
There was an outpouring of support from Americans and Scots, and former presidents George Bush and Jimmy Carter joined the campaign to save it.
But with just days to go it was saved from closure.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Scotland and the United States share strong and lasting social, cultural and economic ties, and we do all we can to ensure those links remain strong and continue to thrive.’
