Donald Trump continued his Embarrass America tour of England on Wednesday with a visit to Ireland. As he sat for a press conference on trade and European political affairs, protesters outside opposed the welcome he received from the Irish government.
“We have the cleanest air in the United States,” Trump claims in Ireland, saying “it’s gotten cleaner” while he has been president and the US is apparently “setting records” when it comes to water quality
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 5, 2019
Trump gave a press conference with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, where he advocated for a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a controversial issue opposed by many in Ireland. His motives for visiting Ireland were questioned by members of the press.
One reporter asked Trump if his visit was more about promoting his golf course than anything else. Trump answered that it wasn’t.
‘This trip is really about great relationships that we have with the UK. I really wanted to do this stop … because of the relationship I have with the people and with your Prime Minister.’
The question follows a report from MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show that Trump initially requested that the location of the meeting with Varadkar at his golf resort in Ireland. Maddow summarized the Irish government’s response to that request by saying:
‘No, we will not use our government to create a commercial for your golf course. Even though you, sir, are clearly comfortable using the American government to hold a commercial for your golf course.’
The two will, instead, met in an airport lounge for the press conference after Trump refused their suggestion for a location, which was a nearby castle.
Protesters insist Donald Trump not welcome in Ireland https://t.co/PpFJpIuyEB pic.twitter.com/t0Jok6jIQX
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) June 3, 2019
Just as he was in the UK, Trump was greeted by protesters who oppose the Irish government’s welcoming of Trump. Many of the protesters are opposed to Trump’s views on climate change, but that wasn’t the only issue they identified. Stop Trump Ireland protest organizers Memet Uludag told the Press Association:
‘We are sending a simple message that Donald Trump and his toxic views are not welcome in Ireland. We are using our democratic right to object to his visit, and we would like to say there is a different Ireland which is not in agreement with what Trump represents globally. I think there is a very significant opposition to Trump’s visits from a very broad nature of people opposing his views and what he represents, and this is not protesting against the American people, today we saw American people actually joining with us in this photo call.
‘We stand in solidarity with American women, Black Lives Matter, with the Me Too campaign, with the Mexicans who are separated from their children at the border.’
For Trump’s full press conference, see below:
Featured image screenshot via YouTube