During an upcoming trip to Europe to commemorate D-Day, trump was planning to visit Ireland and meet with the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister). In a stunning example of self-dealing, trump’s demanding the meeting be held at his golf resort:
An Irish government source with knowledge of ongoing discussions told CNN that the White House is insisting the Irish prime minister, or taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, come to the President's golf course in Doonbeg to host a meeting between the two leaders. According to the source, "The Irish government feel that protocol dictates that any event they host for President Trump should be at a venue of their choosing and certainly not at an hotel owned by Trump."
"It is a bit unseemly to demand that the taoiseach host President Trump at his hotel," the source said. The source, who asked that his name not be used so he could speak freely, says Trump's chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, has been intimately involved in the discussions and has been insistent that Varadkar come to Doonbeg.
In case you’re wondering what “protocol” is doing in the same sentence as “trump,” the Irish still have a strong sense of it, even if trump doesn’t:
The unique nature of a potential visit – a US president visiting his own private property in Ireland – has thrown up complex issues around protocol, and whether it constitutes a private or official visit.
While a trip to Scotland would not involve the president engaging in official activities, given that he will have already met the British prime minister and Queen Elizabeth during his state visit to Britain, a visit to Ireland would necessitate some formal engagement with the Government.
Why is trump insistent on the Prime Minister coming to visit him at his resort? And where does the self-dealing come in?
A trip to Doonbeg may also reignite criticism that the president may be using travel to raise publicity for his privately owned properties, some of which are ailing financially.
[…] Trump is now seeking approval from Irish regulators for two separate proposals at the club. One — for a rock sea wall intended to hold back coastal erosion — has been the subject of a years-long fight with environmentalists who believe the wall would destroy a rare set of dunes nearby.
It is now pending before the Irish national planning review board: The board’s website says a decision was expected by October 2018, but it has not come yet. The other proposal is for an expansion of the club’s hotel, to include more than 50 new rental cottages and a large ballroom for events. It is awaiting approval from local officials.
So trump wants to use a taxpayer-funded foreign visit to boost his own interests. But the Irish PM is also conflicted about a trump visit:
As a compromise, Ireland has proposed the two have dinner at a nearby venue, the Dromoland Castle, and then have a follow-up breakfast at Trump's property. "Leo is doing his best to minimize his exposure to Trump on this visit, but he is in a tricky position, as practically every American digital company's European headquarters are in Ireland," said the source.
The Trump visit was already complicated because the president is wildly unpopular in Ireland, CNN writes. At the same time, the prime minister wants to maintain positive relations with the United States as Ireland hosts headquarters for Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and Apple, CNN reports.
trump has another motive for controlling the venue — avoiding protestors:
The president canceled a trip to Ireland last November, citing scheduling conflicts. As reported by Reuters at the time, groups had been planning to stage protests during that visit.
It is likely that the president’s travels to the U.K. and Ireland will not be without major demonstrations from the public.
The Irish PM said protests would be not only allowed, but welcome:
“Peaceful protest is part of a democracy and I would certainly never criticize anyone for taking part in a protest if that's the way they wish to express their views," he told the Irish Independent.
[…] “A lot of people have been critical of President Trump, including me on occasion, on issues around climate for example, on his opposition to free trade, on the criticisms he has made of the European Union, and on issues such as women’s rights.
"I’ll have the opportunity, as I have in the past, to actually raise those issues with him in person but I understand that other people will wish to do so by means of protest and in a democracy protest is allowed and welcome.”
It sounds like Ireland’s Prime Minister doesn’t want to help trump hide from protestors on his own property 😈 I hope some of those protest signs call him “President Snowflake”!