Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Irish whiskey tariffs to be lifted, Trump says
US President Donald Trump said Sunday during a visit to Ireland that he would lift tariffs on Irish whiskey, after appeals by Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin and golfer Shane Lowry.
Irish whiskey exports to the United States have suffered since Trump imposed tariffs of up to 15 percent on European Union products. The supplied information did not give a timetable or detailed mechanism for the promised change.
Trump also criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, saying Ukraine should “stop knocking out diesel fuel” because it was causing a shortage. He said Ukraine could pursue other targets.
Oil prices have risen as attacks in the Middle East have intensified, adding to US fuel costs and inflation. Trump said the Russia-Ukraine war, not the US-Israel conflict with Iran, was to blame for fuel shortages.
Trump ended his two-day Ireland stay by presenting the Irish Open golf trophy to Lowry at his Doonbeg golf resort on Ireland's west coast. His visit mixed diplomacy, golf and his private business interests.
On Saturday, Trump said during a meeting with Martin in Dublin that he would “love to see” a united Ireland and that reunification of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland was “going to happen eventually”. The remarks broke with Washington's traditional neutrality on the issue and drew pushback from British loyalists in Northern Ireland and some leading UK politicians. Trump repeated the view on Sunday.
Around 30 people protested Trump's visit in Doonbeg village. Irish and US authorities mounted a large security operation, and police said three women appeared in a western Irish court late Saturday after being arrested for separate trespass and public order offences at the course.
Trump was joined by his sons Eric and Don Jr, who manage the family business. Opposition Democrats in the United States have accused Trump of blurring the line between the presidency and his business interests. The White House has rejected claims of conflicts of interest and accusations that Trump has used the presidency to enrich himself.
Update
Trump said he would lift tariffs on Irish whiskey after appeals by Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin and golfer Shane Lowry.
Trump presented the Irish Open trophy to Shane Lowry at his Doonbeg golf resort.
Trump played down concerns about artificial intelligence, saying “negative” forces opposed its development.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 September 2026 at 20:11:43 UTC.
Update
Trump criticised Volodymyr Zelensky over Kyiv's attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Trump said Ukraine should stop hitting diesel fuel refineries because he said the attacks were causing a diesel shortage.
Trump repeated his support for Irish reunification during his Doonbeg visit.
Around 30 people protested Trump's visit in Doonbeg village.
Police said three women appeared in court after arrests for separate trespass and public order offences at the course.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 September 2026 at 15:25:51 UTC.
Update
UK minister Angela Rayner said Britain was serious about the Good Friday Agreement after Trump's Irish unity remarks.
Irish police said three women appeared in court after being arrested for separate trespass and public order offences at the Doonbeg course.
The security operation was expected to involve around 4,000 Irish and US personnel, with anti-drone technology among the measures.
University of Minnesota Law School professor Richard Painter warned that Trump's conduct could send a message that patronising his properties was a way to curry favour.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 September 2026 at 08:22:39 UTC.
Update
Trump is due to attend the Irish Open at his Trump Organization-owned Doonbeg course on Sunday before departing for Washington.
Eric Trump and Don Jr are in Doonbeg with him and have managed the family business since Trump returned to the White House last year.
About 40,000 fans are expected at the Irish Open over the weekend.
Trump could present the winner's trophy on Sunday.
The Doonbeg course has twice been targeted by pro-Palestinian activists in the past 18 months.
The White House has pushed back against claims that Trump has conflicts of interest or is using the presidency to enrich himself.
Financial disclosures cited in the item say Trump received more than $2 billion in income in 2025, compared with just over $600 million in 2024.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 September 2026 at 01:24:27 UTC.
Update
Police said three women appeared in a western Irish court after arrests for separate trespass and public order offences in Doonbeg.
The Irish Times reported that a small group of demonstrators set a US flag on fire.
Trump later flew to Doonbeg and was photographed watching the Irish Open with his sons Don Jr. and Eric.
The security operation was reported to cost 20 million euros, or $23 million.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 20:47:26 UTC.
Update
Irish President Catherine Connolly said she conveyed the view that “the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted”.
At least 2,000 protesters rallied in Dublin against Trump's visit, waving Palestinian flags and holding placards.
A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham referred reporters to Burnham's pledge to “stick to the Good Friday Agreement 100 percent”.
The security effort was reported to be costing Ireland 20 million euros, or $23 million.
Trump may award the Irish Open trophy on Sunday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 13:10:38 UTC.
Update
Donald Trump said he would "love to see" a united Ireland and called reunification "a fantastic thing" after meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin.
Trump said Irish reunification would happen eventually but added that the UK would "have something to say about it".
Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson rejected the idea of Northern Ireland joining the Republic of Ireland.
AFP reported the visit's security effort was costing Ireland about 20 million euros.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 11:42:21 UTC.
Update
Donald Trump met Irish President Catherine Connolly in Dublin after landing in Ireland.
Connolly gave Trump a collection of poems by Belfast poet Michael Longley.
Trump then met Taoiseach Micheal Martin, with the Middle East, US tariffs on EU pharmaceuticals and immigration expected to be discussed.
Trump told reporters that everything would “work out fine” in the Gulf and said prices would “tumble” if the UK opened the North Sea to more oil and gas drilling.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 09:49:14 UTC.
Update
Donald Trump touched down at Dublin airport shortly before 8:25 am local time.
Trump arrived on a plane described by AFP as Qatari-gifted.
Trump is set to meet Irish President Catherine Connolly as well as Taoiseach Micheal Martin in Dublin.
AFP reported that the security operation for the visit is costing Ireland 20 million euros.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 07:49:30 UTC.
Update
Donald Trump has arrived in Ireland for the two-day visit.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 07:25:45 UTC.
Update
Donald Trump spoke to reporters before flying to Dublin and said he expected meetings with European leaders and others.
At least 4,000 police and other personnel, including snipers, have been mobilised for the visit.
Trump is due to meet Taoiseach Micheal Martin and President Catherine Connolly in Dublin.
The Middle East, US tariffs on EU pharmaceuticals and immigration are likely to be on the agenda.
The security operation is reportedly costing Ireland 20 million euros.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 02:04:49 UTC.
Update
Trump is due to arrive in Ireland on Saturday for a two-day visit, stopping in Dublin before heading to Doonbeg.
The Irish Open began Thursday at Trump International Golf Links in County Clare and is set to draw up to 75,000 spectators.
A Sunday Independent / Ireland Thinks poll reported that more than two-thirds of Irish people do not welcome the visit.
A “No Welcome for Trump” demonstration is planned in Dublin, with further demonstrations expected near Doonbeg and Shannon.
Around 4,000 Irish and US security personnel are expected to be involved in the visit's security operation.
Local figures in Doonbeg credited the Trump resort with jobs and economic activity.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 02:14:30 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
No timetable or detailed mechanism was supplied for lifting Irish whiskey tariffs.
Trump's claim that Ukrainian refinery attacks are causing diesel shortages was not independently verified in the supplied material.
Source
AFP news report published on .