Irish protests planned as Trump arrives amid Gaza backlash
US President Donald Trump is set to visit Ireland on Saturday, but a poll shows 69 percent of Irish people oppose the visit. Protests are planned, with demonstrators citing US policies on Gaza and Iran. Irish President Catherine Connolly has previously criticized the US as an untrustworthy power.
A recent poll found 69 percent oppose the visit. Protests are planned at Dublin's Garden of Remembrance, with student Sean Radcliffe urging Taoiseach Micheal Martin to make a firm public statement against US policy in Gaza. Artist Sean Corcoran carved "No Kings" and "Gaza, Iran, Ice" into Dublin Bay Beach sand.
Security includes roughly 4,000 personnel, including 1,000 Secret Service agents and anti-drone weaponry, prompting temporary closure of Phoenix Park. Trump will attend the Irish Open at his Doonbeg resort. President Catherine Connolly, who won a landslide in October 2025, previously called the US untrustworthy but doubts Gaza will be discussed; academic Johan Dornschneider-Elkink notes high public consensus may embolden her activist role.
The visit could strain diplomatic optics while the heavy security presence may disrupt daily life in Dublin and Doonbeg. Protests might amplify public pressure on Irish leaders to adopt more critical rhetoric toward US foreign policy. President Connolly's ceremonial role could become a symbolic platform for dissent, potentially influencing how Irish society debates its alignment with Washington. The widespread opposition may also reinforce Ireland's distinct stance on Gaza, though the visit's immediate geopolitical impact remains uncertain.