OAN Staff Lillian Mann
4:20 PM – Monday, September 14, 2026
During his visit to Ireland over the weekend, President Donald Trump met with the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, a notable encounter due to Connolly’s history of sharp criticism toward Trump.
The meeting took place at Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence and workplace of the Irish president in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
During their brief meeting, Trump was presented with a St. Brigid’s Cross — recognized as a symbol of peace — alongside a collection of poetry featuring Michael Longley’s famous sonnet “Ceasefire.”
Given Connolly’s past criticism of President Trump and her remarks during the meeting, the choice of gifts could be viewed as particularly pointed.
Nonetheless, Saturday’s visit appeared cordial, with the warmth continuing later when President Trump described Connolly as “terrific” during remarks at the U.S. ambassador’s residence.
Though Trump paused briefly after the visit to speak to reporters, he did not answer any questions about the specificities of the meeting with the Irish president.
Connolly did reveal, however, that she told President Trump that “normalization of war and genocide can never be accepted,” during their meeting, adding that the “deep connection” between the U.S. and Ireland “allows us to speak openly to one another.”
After standing at attention for the U.S. and Irish national anthems, the Irish president reportedly introduced Trump to a delegation of Irish dignitaries, including Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy.
Trump then introduced Connolly to his own delegation — which included his son, Donald Trump Jr.
After the meeting, Trump reportedly left a message in the visitor’s book that read, “It is a great honor to be here thank you,” according to the Independent.
“We are in a world facing the existential threat posed by war and climate change, both of which are inextricably interlinked,” Connolly emphasized in a statement following the meeting.
She added that Ireland would support those who “build a shared peace in all those parts of the world currently suffering from such horrific war and violence”
“I conveyed the strong view of the Irish people that the normalization of war and genocide can never be accepted. As a country which has suffered famine, colonization and the violence of the Troubles, but also the importance of the long and challenging road to peace, I emphasized the unique insight which Irish people can bring to the resolution of conflict,” Connolly said of the meeting with Trump.
During the encounter on Saturday, Trump emphasized that he would “love” to see a united Ireland and later doubled down on these comments on Sunday at the Irish Open.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below