From NPR · · 2m
Trump's Irish weekend: state handshakes, then his own golf course
A Dublin visit with full state ceremony, built around a tournament at a course the Trump family owns.
In brief
A Dublin visit with full state ceremony, built around a tournament at a course the Trump family owns. The trip's official business, meeting Ireland's president and taoiseach, was arranged around a golf tournament at Trump's own resort, the clearest sign yet of public duty and family business travelling together…
Talks in Dublin, golf in Doonbeg
Trump met Irish President Catherine Connolly and Prime Minister Micheál Martin on Saturday, then flew across the country to watch the Irish Open at his own oceanfront club.
His critic is now his host
Connolly protested Trump's 2019 visit, backs the Palestinian cause, and has called him a bully. As Ireland's elected but largely ceremonial head of state, she had to welcome him anyway.
Red carpet, then closed doors
Connolly greeted him at the end of a red carpet at her residence. He saluted as an Irish Defence Forces band played the U.S. anthem, inspected an honor guard, then went inside for private talks.
Dubliners fume over the cordon
Police sealed off the 1,750-acre Phoenix Park around the president's residence. Residents complained the shutdown was for a golf trip, not a crisis.
“He's causing mayhem in this city because he wants to go down to Doonbeg and play golf.”
A protest coalition forms
Opposition parties, anti-military groups, pro-Palestinian organizations and environmentalists planned a joint Dublin demonstration. One student called the government's welcome indefensible.
“shameful that the Irish government is welcoming him with open arms”
Eric Trump points to payroll
The president's son told RTE the Doonbeg resort is the largest employer in the area and invited critics to ask locals what the family has done for them.
“Go down to Morrissey's tavern in Doonbeg and hear from a real Irish person as to whether or not they like President Trump”
Trade sits on the table
Martin, who invited Trump at the White House on St. Patrick's Day, wanted to keep trans-Atlantic relations warm despite gaps over trade and foreign policy. He also wanted an Irish winner on Sunday.
“reaffirming the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Ireland and the United States”
The pattern behind the trip
Doral and Bedminster hosted pro tournaments this year, and the Irish Open is the second European Tour event at a Trump property after Aberdeen. Official travel keeps landing on family fairways.
The headline
The trip's official business, meeting Ireland's president and taoiseach, was arranged around a golf tournament at Trump's own resort, the clearest sign yet of public duty and family business travelling together.
