Donald Trump ‘going to try’ to attend Irish Open

By Rebecca Black, Press Association in Washington, DC

US President Donald Trump has said he is “going to try” to attend the Irish Open golf tournament when it is hosted at his golf course later this year.

Trump expressed hope that he would be visiting Ireland in the autumn as he met Taoiseach Micheal Martin in the Oval Office in the White House.

The Irish Open will be held at Trump International Golf Links Ireland in Doonbeg, Co Clare in September.

The President said the Taoiseach had expressed a desire that he would attend.

Trump told reporters: “You have a tremendous golf tradition, and it was chosen for the Irish Open, which is a big deal. That’s a big event.

He added: “Everybody wants me to be there. You (Mr Martin) just said, ‘I hope you’re going to go’.

“We’re going to try. We are going to try. But it would be an honour.

“But it was a great honour to be chosen. They only choose the best courses in the world for the, you know, for the big opens – it’s one of the big ones.”

Asked about objections to a ballroom extension at the resort, which involves the protection of a species of snail, the US President said he had not heard about the specific issue but said it was not “the biggest problem”.

“The course was built, and it’s been operated very successfully.

“An environmental group is objecting (because of) small snails? Doesn’t sound like the biggest problem.”

The 2026 Amgen Irish Open is to be played at the resort between September 10 and 13.

Trump visited the golf course in 2023.