US President Donald Trump is due to land in Ireland this morning.
Air Force One landed at Dublin Airport shortly after 8.20am ahead of the two day trip that will see the president take engagements in Dublin and visit his golf course in Doonbeg, Co Clare.
Irish premier Micheál Martin said he looks forward to welcoming Mr Trump to Ireland and “discussing the many issues of mutual interest and reaffirming the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Ireland and the United States”.
“His visit comes during a remarkable sporting summer for Ireland, and the United States and this weekend’s Irish Open at Trump International Doonbeg will be a fitting conclusion to an outstanding season of sport, and I hope we will see an Irish winner lifting the trophy on Sunday,” he added.
The visit will cause significant disruption and road closures around Dublin Airport and across the capital city as well as in Co Clare and Shannon Airport which will also be used by Mr Trump.
He is expected to meet President Catherine Connolly, a long-standing critic of the US president, at her official residence Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, before a nearby engagement with Mr Martin, the Taoiseach at the Farmleigh Estate.
He will also attend a series of events at Deerfield, the residence of the US Ambassador to Ireland.
The visit, the latest example of the blending of Trump’s official duties with his personal interests, has gotten under the skin of some Dubliners.
Police put up a cordon around Dublin’s 1,750-acre (700-hectare) Phoenix Park, where he’ll meet Martin, the taoiseach, at the government’s Farmleigh state guesthouse, say hello to the president at her residence, Áras an Uachtaráin , and stop by Deerfield, the U.S. ambassador’s residence.
Some residents expressed annoyance over the disruption.
“He’s causing mayhem in this city because he wants to go down to Doonbeg and play golf,” said taxi driver Christopher Fox, emphatically not a fan of Trump. “The world’s in turmoil and this fella’s down playing golf.”
University student Mina Petrovski said Trump’s “attitudes towards women, towards immigrants, towards minority communities in general are abhorrent.” She said it’s “shameful that the Irish government is welcoming him with open arms.”
A number of protests against Mr Trump’s visit have been planned.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said peaceful protest would be facilitated as much as possible, but there will be “no tolerance” for public disorder or attempts to impact “critical movements” of the US president.
“We have robust policing plans in place and will arrest and prosecute those committing offences”, he said, adding that water cannon will be “on standby” but said he hoped they would not be needed.
Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris will welcome Mr Trump as he arrives off Air Force One at Dublin Airport early on Saturday morning.
Speaking ahead of the moment, the Tánaiste said the visit offers an “opportunity to mark and reflect on the deep and enduring links between Ireland and the United States”.
“I am looking forward to getting a chance to meet again with President Trump following a brief engagement on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York last year,” he said.
“Ireland and the US have deep and enduring political, economic, cultural and historical links that transcend the administrations on both sides of the Atlantic.
“There are clear benefits from high-level visits such as this as they offer an opportunity to engage on the deep economic relationship between our two countries which creates prosperity, jobs and opportunity for large numbers of people here and in the US.”
Mr Harris said Mr Trump’s visit will be an opportunity for the Irish Government to engage substantively as the US remains Ireland’s largest trading and investment partner.
“More than 900 US companies directly employ 245,000 people in Ireland, while more than 200,000 people are directly employed by almost 800 Irish companies in the US,” he said.
“Our economic partnership delivers for both countries. US firms present in Ireland have contributed to an economic ecosystem that has driven improvements in productivity and encouraged Irish companies to scale and grow in the US and internationally.”
Trump is an avid golfer who plays just about every weekend at clubs he owns in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia. His attendance at the Irish Open continues his trend of appearing at high-profile sporting events — and having a hand in organizing some of them in ways that benefit his family business. His clubs in Doral, Florida, and Bedminster, New Jersey, have each hosted professional golf tournaments this year.
The Irish Open is the second European Tour event to be held at a Trump property this year. The Nexo Championship was held last month at Trump’s golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland.Last year, Trump went to Scotland for five days to play golf at his club in Turnberry and later inaugurated a new Trump golf course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. During that visit, he held talks with the British prime minister and the president of the European Commission.
