President Donald Trump arrived in Dublin on Saturday, September 12, 2026, for a two-day visit to Ireland that includes official diplomatic meetings and attendance at a professional golf tournament. The president is scheduled for separate talks with Irish President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin. Following his stop in the capital, he is slated to fly to Shannon on Sunday afternoon to attend the conclusion of the Irish Open at his Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, County Clare.
The visit marks the president's first trip to Ireland since 2019 and comes amid reports from the Irish Times and other outlets that security costs for the two-day event could reach €20 million (£17.16 million). During the lead-up to his arrival, Phoenix Park was closed to the public starting Thursday, September 10, to facilitate security measures. While a senior Irish government official described the goal of the visit as a "trouble-free" diplomatic and sporting event, the Sunday Independent and Ireland Thinks reported a poll indicating that 69 percent of the Irish public does not support the visit.
A coalition of political parties, advocacy groups, and environmentalists organized demonstrations in Dublin and Doonbeg to coincide with the arrival. Protesters cited various reasons for their opposition, including the president's foreign policy regarding Israel, Gaza, and Iran, as well as his stance on climate change and his 2023 civil court liability for sexual abuse. Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, a Labour MEP, stated that the president should not receive a warm welcome due to his past criticism of European allies, while Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald confirmed her party would join the protests.
The visit affects several specific groups, including residents of Dublin and Doonbeg, the estimated 4,000 Irish and American security personnel deployed for the event, and the local business community. Taxpayers in Ireland are footing a reported €20 million security bill for the two-day period, which includes the deployment of 1,000 U.S. Secret Service members, snipers, and anti-drone technology. For residents in Dublin, the closure of the 1,750-acre Phoenix Park from Thursday through Saturday evening significantly restricts public movement and transportation in the capital's center.
For small-business owners and the hospitality sector in Doonbeg, the visit brings the international spotlight of the Irish Open, the second European Tour event held at a Trump property this year. However, university students and local activists have expressed that the government's hosting of the president contradicts their social values regarding immigrant and minority rights. The concrete day-to-day impact for commuters in Dublin included what taxi driver Christopher Fox described as "mayhem" due to security cordons and road closures during the president's transit to official residences.
The visit also carries policy implications for Irish-U.S. relations, as Irish leaders face pressure from opposition parties to address international law and humanitarian concerns in Gaza during their brief meetings. The precedent of a sitting U.S. president attending a professional tournament at his own commercial property has also drawn scrutiny from critics who note the dual nature of the trip as both diplomatic and business-oriented. The president is scheduled to depart Ireland on Sunday evening, September 13, following the conclusion of the golf tournament.