US President Donald Trump landed in Ireland to open and participate in a major tournament at his oceanfront golf club in Doonbeg. 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. The security operation for Trump’s visit is reportedly costing Ireland 20 million euros.
“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.
Some 40,000 fans are expected at the tournament over the weekend, with six-time major winner and current world number two Rory McIlroy the main draw.
McIlroy, who has played golf with Trump, told the BBC this week that the tournament will feel “different” with the US president on site, but that the players will just “keep our heads down and play.”
Trump also used his current visit to Ireland to meet with the country’s political leaders.
At a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin, Trump said he would love to see the reunification of the Republic of Ireland with the UK’s Northern Ireland.
“I don’t want to cause any problems but I’d love to see it unified,” Trump said. “It’s going to happen eventually,” he added.
