Northern Ireland

Colum Eastwood says Donald Trump is 'not welcome here' as protests planned over Irish visit

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he would not attend functions at the White House during Donald Trump's presidency. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he would not attend functions at the White House during Donald Trump's presidency. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he would not attend functions at the White House during Donald Trump's presidency. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire

THE SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said US President Donald Trump is "not welcome here", as protests are expected to be organised during his visit to Ireland in November.

Mr Trump will travel to Paris for commemorations on November 11 - the day of the inauguration of the next Irish President - marking the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I.

"While in Europe, the President will also visit Ireland to renew the deep and historic ties between our two nations," read a White House statement.

In July, President Trump spent four days in Britain - where protests were held against his visit - having cancelled an earlier trip planned for February.

Details of the exact itinerary, including whether he will visit the north, have not been confirmed.

It will be the first visit to Ireland by the US President since his election.

Mr Trump owns a golf resort in Co Clare, Trump Doonbeg, which he bought in February 2014. He last visited Doonbeg in May the same year.

Tweeting Mr Trump, the SDLP leader wrote: "You're not welcome here @realDonaldTrump."

Mr Eastwood said prior to Mr Trump's election that he would not attend the White House under his presidency.

In the Republic, Solidarity-People Before Profit, Labour and the Greens have all pledged to protest against the visit.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said: "We're calling on Irish people to tell our government to cancel this visit; and for them to demonstrate in never-before-seen numbers should they fail to do so."

Labour leader Brendan Howlin described Mr Trump as "no friend of democracy or human rights".

However, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have welcomed the visit.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that the "US President is always welcome in Ireland."

A spokesperson for the Department of the Taoiseach said: "The Taoiseach understands that President Trump will stop in Ireland for a brief visit on his way to or from the Armistice commemorations in Paris.

"It will be an opportunity to follow up on the issues discussed in the White House in March including migration, trade, climate change and human rights issues."