US President Donald Trump was received in Dublin on Saturday, where he will be staying for 48 hours, including talks with the Irish government and a visit to the Irish Open golf tournament at his Doonbeg resort.
The Irish president, Catherine Connolly and prime minister, Micheál Martin are among those Trump will meet in Dublin. Though the meetings are not part of an official state visit, discussions are likely to include economic matters and Ireland’s concerns about the war in Iran.
The visit coincides with Trump’s Republican party running for a party sweep of both houses of Congress in November’s midterm elections. Economic pressures in the United States, especially on gas prices, have increased as a result of the Iran conflict.
Prior to his events in Dublin, Trump was greeted at Dublin airport by the Irish deputy prime minister and foreign minister.
His visit also has sparked some planned anti-war and anti-Trump protests in Dublin and at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, County Clare.
Ireland has adopted a very pro-Palestinian stance in the European Union. It in July enacted legislation that limits trade in goods associated with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and has been condemned by some U.S. lawmakers and the U.S. ambassador to Ireland.
Economic issues are expected to continue to play a key role in the visit. The ties between Ireland and the U.S. are of enormous importance to both countries, Martin said, and that approximately 10 percent of Irish jobs are in U.S.-owned companies.
Trump will then head to Doonbeg where his golf resort is also hosting the Irish Open. Trump has been an expected participant in presenting the trophy on Sunday and the Trump Organization took control of the course in 2014.
Source: Reuters
