Trump Voices Support for Unified Ireland on Dublin Stopover

President Donald Trump told an audience in Dublin on Saturday that he would cheat at golf if not for the presence of 250 Secret Service agents, an admission that came during remarks to U.S. Embassy personnel and business leaders ahead of his attendance at the Irish Open at his own resort.

Trump made the comment while recounting a golf outing with the head of a major company. He said unidentified people had asked whether he cheats and then answered directly. "It's not that I wouldn't cheat. But you can't move the ball," Trump said. The remark drew laughter from the crowd but echoed longstanding allegations from golf writers and observers about his on-course habits.

The 48-hour visit mixes official meetings with a personal golf stop. Trump arrived in Dublin early Saturday and met Ireland's president and prime minister. The talks are not a formal state visit, yet they occur against the backdrop of the Iran war, rising U.S. gas prices, and Republican efforts to hold Congress in the November midterms. Irish leaders have expressed concerns about the conflict, and the country remains one of the European Union's most pro-Palestinian nations after passing a law in July restricting trade with West Bank settlements.

Trump also weighed in on Irish unity, saying he would "love to see it unified" and suggesting it "may as well happen now." He described the prospect as a "great feather in everybody's cap" while acknowledging the United Kingdom would have a say. Irish officials have indicated the comments will not alter policy on the issue, which remains governed by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

The trip has drawn significant opposition. Protests are planned in Dublin and near the Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, where the president will watch the conclusion of the Irish Open on Sunday. A recent poll found 69 percent of Irish respondents do not support the visit. Organizers expect thousands to turn out, citing Trump's record and policies. Security for the trip involves roughly 4,000 Irish and American personnel at an estimated cost of 20 million euros to Irish taxpayers.

Trump's schedule includes an arrival ceremony at Phoenix Park and separate meetings with Prime Minister Micheál Martin and President Catherine Connolly. The president is scheduled to depart Sunday evening after the golf event. Anti-war demonstrators have also signaled plans to protest near Doonbeg, reflecting broader European discontent with U.S. policy in the Middle East.

The golf-related remark stood out in a visit otherwise framed around diplomacy. Trump's ownership of the Doonbeg course has drawn scrutiny in the past, and Saturday's comment reinforced questions about his approach to the game that have circulated for years.