US President Donald Trump landed at Dublin Airport on Saturday morning, touching down on Air Force One at around 8:20am and stepping onto a red carpet to be greeted by Tánaiste Simon Harris, according to reports from The Irish Sun and The Sun. The US President was met by Irish and US dignitaries before stepping into a motorcade that included an armoured Garda car, travelling to Phoenix Park where he is due to meet Ireland's President, Catherine Connolly.
The visit, scheduled for September 12 and 13, includes engagements in Dublin as well as at Mr Trump's golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare, which is hosting the Irish Open this weekend. Speaking after the arrival, Mr Harris said the President was "very much looking forward" to getting to Doonbeg, adding that Mr Trump was travelling with his son Don, his daughter-in-law, and some of his grandchildren, who have never been to Ireland before. Mr Harris also told reporters that Mr Trump had said he was looking forward to being in Ireland, to the golf, and had enjoyed the use of his new jet.
Security Operation Described as One of the Biggest Ever
The security operation surrounding the visit has been described by An Garda Síochána as "one of the biggest policing and security operations implemented by An Garda Síochána." The police service said it has been involved in "intense, in-depth and extensive planning" ahead of the visit, declaring an "extraordinary event" that allows for changing rosters and overtime arrangements, re-allocated staff, and engagement with Ireland's Defence Forces and other international police forces. The operation involves the Special Tactics and Operations Command, Close Protection Officers, armed and intelligence units as well as public order police, as reported by Kent Online and the Evening Standard.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that "very significant resources" have been allocated to security services for the visit, which coincides with several major meetings related to Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union. Speaking at his Fianna Fáil party think-in in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Mr Martin said he had spoken to Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, who was "very strong and confident in terms of the capacity of An Garda Síochána to meet the challenges that lie ahead." Mr Martin added: "This is an exceptionally busy year for An Garda Síochána, with the Presidency of the European Union, the visit of President Trump, and we do have the capacities to manage this and to do it properly. Resources, and very significant resources, have been allocated in that regard, and so I'm confident of that."
Over the course of the operation, members of An Garda Síochána will perform over 10,000 12-hour tours of duty from Friday until Sunday, in what The Irish Sun reported is a security operation dubbed 'Operation Far Sunrise.' Commissioner Kelly warned that gardaí are taking a "no tolerance" approach to anyone who tries to stop the President's movements, with officers from the US, UK and Europe brought in to ensure his safety. He said peaceful protest would be facilitated as much as possible, but there will be "no tolerance" for public disorder or attempts to impact the President's movements. "We have robust policing plans in place and will arrest and prosecute those committing offences," Commissioner Kelly said, as quoted by LBC.
Commissioner Kelly also said the cost of the security operation will be in line with previous visits, with Joe Biden's 2023 trip costing more than €31 million. People travelling to Dublin and Shannon Airports have been warned of rolling road closures, and protests against the visit have been planned in Dublin city centre, Shannon Airport, and Doonbeg village, as reported by The Irish Sun and The Sun.
Political Engagements and Context
After his arrival, Mr Trump was expected to meet President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin's Phoenix Park. The meeting is scheduled to last around 35 minutes, with no video allowed, according to The Irish Sun. President Connolly has previously labelled Mr Trump "a bully" and accused the US of funding Israel's genocide in Palestine, as noted by The Irish Sun.
The President is then expected to cross to the US Ambassador's residence, where he is due to speak, with VIP guests including the Taoiseach and his wife Mary, Michael Flatley, Eddie Hobbs, Ken O'Flynn of Independent Ireland, executives from Amazon and Google, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, and former Taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, according to a guest list seen by The Irish Sun.
Later, Mr Trump is due to meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House, where discussions are expected to focus on the US war in the Middle East, Russia's conflict in Ukraine, and America's trade tariffs on the EU, as reported by The Irish Sun. Mr Harris said the visit offers an "opportunity to mark and reflect on the deep and enduring links between Ireland and the United States," adding that Ireland and the US have "deep and enduring political, economic, cultural and historical links that transcend the administrations on both sides of the Atlantic." He described the visit as an opportunity for the Irish Government to engage substantively, noting that 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," Mr Harris said.
Taoiseach 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." He added: "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."
The Taoiseach previously met Mr Trump at the White House during St Patrick's Day celebrations in March, as reported by the Irish Mirror and The Irish Times. After his engagements in Dublin, Mr Trump is scheduled to fly to Shannon Airport before taking a helicopter to Trump Doonbeg Hotel in Co Clare for the Irish Open tournament.