Ireland braces for a pointed encounter between a left-wing president and Trump

Ireland awaits Donald Trump's two‑day visit, centered on golf at Doonbeg, as President Catherine Connolly—a long‑time critic of Trump—prepares for a private audience with him at Áras an Uachtaráin. With security tightening and protests planned, Dublin advisers are anxious about balancing Irish values with diplomacy, hoping Connolly can press Trump without triggering a diplomatic row. The encounter underscores sensitive U.S.–Ireland ties during a visit framed by political theater and a major golf tournament, while Taoiseach Micheál Martin urges calm and a smooth, discreet meeting.