The US president touched down at Dublin airport in his Qatari-gifted plane shortly before 8:25 am (0725 GMT), AFP reporters saw.At least 4,000 police and other personnel, including snipers, have been mobilised for the visit, in what has been dubbed one of the biggest security operations ever mounted in Ireland.Thousands of anti-Trump protesters are planning to rally in Dublin, where the US leader will hold separate meetings with Ireland's taoiseach (prime minister) Micheal Martin and President Catherine Connolly.
Trump landed in Ireland on his Qatari-gifted plane © Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP
Trump is then due to fly to his luxury resort in Doonbeg, on Ireland's west coast, where some of the world's top golfers are competing in the Irish Open tournament.The golf-mad president -- whose relaxed relationship with the game's rules was documented by sports journalist Rick Reilly in the 2019 book "Commander in Cheat" -- may even award the trophy on Sunday."He's really just visiting the golf resort he owns and dropping into Dublin for a courtesy visit," Daniel Geary, a US history professor at Trinity College Dublin, told AFP."He sees little difference between his private interests and his role as president."'Business'The 80-year-old billionaire has promoted his family's golf business unabashedly since returning to the White House for his second stint as president in January 2025.
