Trump heads to Ireland on 9/12

For a small European nation, Ireland sure attracts a lot of attention from the White House. U.S. Presidents keep visiting. 47 is no exception. Nothing is official yet, but it looks like Donald Trump will fly across the Atlantic to Dublin after presiding at September 11 ceremonies.

He plans to attend the Irish Open golf tournament at the resort he owns in the West of Ireland and be at Doonbeg for the final round on September 13 so he can present the trophy to the winner.

FAKE NEWS. Trump wasn’t there when Mayo won the All-Ireland. Mayo was wearing white jerseys at Croke Park anyhow, Hmmm. But the man does like to hand out trophies, as we saw at the Ryder Cup in New York and, of course, the World Cup.

Trump Ireland trip unknowns

Presiding at the 18th green Sunday seems to be the only concrete detail of this trip. The BBC’s Gabija Gataveckaite, based in Belfast, reports that Trump’s first stop won’t be Shannon Airport. While the details of his itinerary are still being finalised, BBC News NI understands he will be flying into Dublin on Air Force One first and holding a bilateral meeting with the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) at his official residence, Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park. Will he meet with the President of Ireland? When? How long will he be in Ireland? That is currently known only to those who need to know. Like An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police force, one hopes.

A crowd of protestors with the Baby Trump blimp at the Garden of Remembrance as part of a protest over American President Donald Trump's visit to Ireland in 2019. Sam Boal photo.

Will there be protests?

No doubt. But Doonbeg is so remote that it will take some pretty determined demonstrators to get within shouting distance. Dublin is sure to see masses of people unhappy with Trump take to the streets. Better there than in South Clare. Trump’s pretty popular there. His resort and golf course operation is the number one employer and purchaser of local goods and services from nearby businesses. Not to mention the money spent locally by golfers with deep pockets. Polls tell a different story in the rest of Ireland. The Irish Independent published these numbers: 74% of Irish respondents opposed inviting Trump for a state visit to Ireland, with just 20% supportive and 6% undecided. NOTE Those numbers were published on August 4, 2025. This is not consdered an Official State Visit. More of a working holiday.