Sir, – Donald Trump cannot receive a warm welcome in Ireland. A cold, formal diplomatic reception with a very strong speech is what I expect of my Government. Everything else would be a disaster and ultimately leave a historic responsibility on the whole country.
I am writing to express my concern, fear and anger at the fact that we are welcoming US president Trump to Ireland. There is no doubt that he is the elected president of the US and as such there are certain diplomatic necessities that need to be observed.
Coming to Ireland is an obvious attempt to show the large number of American Irish, that have a vote in the half terms elections, that Ireland loves him. It is our duty to show the world and the Irish Americans that Ireland does not love or support him or his warped ideas in any way. It is high time to call him out publicly. It is time to stop pandering to his narcissistic vanity and stand up to his bullying ways.
Ireland needs to stand firm in unity with our European partners to oppose Trump’s threatening policies, his support for Israel in their genocide against Gaza, his idiotic war in Iran, and his ridiculous board of peace.
Now is not the time for the red carpet and the Irish welcome. Now is the time for the just criticism, the clear statement and the absolute and unambiguous voice against Donald Trump. He is not welcome here. He cannot be welcome here.
JOSEPHINE PLETTENBERG,
Gowran,
Co Kilkenny.
Sir, – In my experience of Trump’s last presidential visit to Doonbeg in 2019, protesters will find it a trifle difficult to protest anywhere near the Co Clare resort.
We had a petition of 104,000 signatures opposing the construction of his “coastal defence” – a rock armour wall designed to protect his rapidly eroding golf course – and as a registered charity, we were given written permission by the Garda to deliver the petition (and 200 letters from all over the world) on an USB stick, to save paper.
I was a long way from the village when I encountered the first roadblock and interrogation. When I finally made it to the village, the sergeant informed me that my permission had been withdrawn and I could go no further. The good sergeant assured me he would have the USB stick given to the US president. Good luck with those signs.
Reviewing our 2019 file, I found the following prescient letter from a resident of central Illinois, USA: “I know I live a long way from Ireland, but I live in a nation trying to deal with Donald Trump as president, denying there is any real problem with climate change here in the USA but wants a wall or two built along public and very priceless beaches in Ireland – to protect his golf course from climate change. We may not be able to stop the damage he does here in the USA; after all, we were daft enough to elect him to our highest office. But I am counting on the Irish to be wiser and stronger than their American cousins.”
We were – and the wall was never built.
TONY LOWES,
Friends of the Irish Environment,
Eyeries,
Co Cork.
Sir, – Former ambassador to the US Dan Mulhall correctly states that Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the current Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason have done well in protecting vital Irish economic interests from the US president’s vindictiveness. (“A diplomat’s advice on how to approach Trump’s visit”, Opinion, September 5th.)
But it should also be added that Trump (and US vice president JD Vance) have no wish to alienate the 35 million Irish Americans who are a key swing vote in US elections. Additionally, US pharma and tech companies with Irish investments have been major donors to Trump. – Yours, etc,
TED SMYTH,
16 West 77 Street,
New York.