WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump plans to visit Ireland next month to attend the Irish Open golf tournament at his golf course in Doonbeg, located in County Clare along the scenic Atlantic coast. This information comes from a White House official who confirmed the trip details.
This upcoming visit exemplifies President Trump’s tendency to intertwine official duties with personal business interests. Although his sons now oversee the Trump Organization’s daily operations, this trip highlights how Trump continues to leverage his presidential position to enhance his family’s business ventures.
Scheduled for September 12 and 13, Trump’s itinerary includes engagements with U.S. embassy personnel and business leaders before he participates in the golf tournament at Trump International Golf Links Ireland in Doonbeg. The White House official, who requested anonymity, provided these details but did not elaborate further.
This is not the first time Trump has utilized his golf courses for official events. Earlier this year, his Bedminster course hosted a LIV golf tournament, and his Doral course in South Florida is set to host the Cadillac Championship in March 2028. Moreover, Trump has expressed interest in having his Turnberry course in Scotland host the British Open again, although significant challenges remain in making that happen.
Last summer, Trump spent five days in Scotland golfing at Turnberry and inaugurated a new Trump golf course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. The White House characterized that trip as a working visit despite its leisure components, emphasizing that Trump had discussions with international leaders, including then-British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Known for frequent visits to his golf properties in Florida, New Jersey, and Virginia, Trump does not typically take extensive vacations. In his 2004 book, “Think Like a Billionaire,” he remarked, “Don’t take vacations. What’s the point?”
Coinciding with this trip, Trump will rally support for Republican candidates in the upcoming November elections, following a national convention in Dallas on September 9-10—an event he proposed to galvanize Republican backing similar to presidential election conventions.
Interestingly, Trump has previously criticized former President Barack Obama for his golf-related travel, pointing out the environmental impact of flying long distances for leisure. In a statement last year, he noted, “They talked about the carbon footprint and then Obama hops onto a 747, Air Force One, and flies to Hawaii to play a round of golf and comes back.”
Trump’s longest downtime last year occurred during a trip to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, where he stayed from early December until after Christmas, although that visit also included meetings with international leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This trip was first reported by the New York Post.
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Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
