Many Irish residents were not enthusiastic about President Donald Trump’s arrival in their country.
Trump, aged 80, traveled there to confer with the nation’s leaders on Sept. 12 as well as to attend the Irish Open in Doonbeg.
Rather than a warm welcome, he was confronted by thousands of protesters flooding the streets of Dublin and the surrounding areas, voicing their opposition to his visit.
Trump was aware the demonstrations awaited him, but he showed little interest in granting them the spotlight.
On Sept. 13, a female reporter at Trump International Golf Links asked Trump whether he had seen the protests.
‘Give Him Grief’: Trump’s Arrival Turns Into a Nightmare as Thousands Flood Dublin With Brutal Warning — and Rosie O’Donnell Piles On
The president dodged the protest question and instead steered the moment toward an unexpected Irish-music reference.
“You remind me of somebody,” Trump replied, pointing at the reporter. “A very cute Irish singer who passed away recently. You know who that is? Sinead!”
“You look like Sinead O’Connor,” he added. “That’s a compliment.”
Sinéad O’Connor, the Grammy-winning artist, died in 2023 at the age of 56.
In 2024, the late singer’s estate urged Trump to stop using her hit “Nothing Compares 2 U” at his rallies, saying she had viewed him as a “biblical devil.”
That history made the comparison even more awkward as social media critics quickly weighed in.
“Translation: I saw the protests. I couldn’t enjoy my filet-o-fish because they upset me so much,” wrote one observer.
Another suggested that Trump may have noticed the protests but chose to ignore them, joking that “Natalie,” his executive assistant, made sure he didn’t see it.
Others pointed out the issue of timing, noting that O’Connor died in 2023 and that Trump’s sense of time seemed off. A critic also claimed that Sinéad disagreed with everything he represents.
But that was merely the start of the spectacle.
Some 25,000 protesters moved on the Irish government buildings, waving anti-Trump placards and alluding to the Epstein files in a fiery display of opposition—a scene as striking as a statue on Dublin’s streets.
Trump confronted another embarrassment via a silent form of protest.
A statue depicted the U.S. president emerging from a trash can on the pavement outside Dublin’s Teal House Gallery rather than standing at a podium.
The gray effigy shows him raising a fist in the air, with an open banana perched on his head. Piles of full garbage bags encircle the statue’s base.
“The Trash Talker” was inscribed at the bottom of the sculpture, which looms taller than Trump himself.
Teal House Gallery shared several images and videos of “The Trash Talker” on Instagram, along with a message about the artwork.
“The work examines personality, spectacle, power, and the increasingly blurred line between politics and performance — using humor and satire to question the theatre surrounding political leadership,” the caption read.
It continued, “The work targets governments, political leadership and state power — not the American people or American identity. Governments are fair material.”
The statue was created by TinKicker, described as a “social-commentary artist.” The Wexford native’s viral piece first appeared at CAN-AL Festival in St. Mullins, Ireland, before moving to Dublin ahead of Trump’s arrival.
As images of the statue circulated online, other social media users weighed in on Trump being portrayed as discarded waste.
“The Irish know how to bring the trash out!” exclaimed one Instagram user in the Teal House Gallery’s comments.
Many praised the banana peel on his head while lauding the Irish for what some called elite trolling.
Trump’s Oscar-the-Grouch treatment amused many online. One person wrote, “Hahaha, this is perfect because he is an absolute piece of trash!”
Trump also faced widespread protests during his first term when he visited Ireland in 2019. The infamous “Baby Trump” blimp appeared in Dublin after the 20-foot-tall orange inflatable caricature had already gained worldwide attention when it flew over London the prior year.
View this post on Instagram
Danielle Brooks
I am a staff writer at New York Beacon, where I focus on culture, entrepreneurship, and the emerging voices redefining Black America. My work highlights innovators, artists, and founders whose stories often unfold beyond mainstream headlines but shape communities in meaningful ways. Through precise reporting and thoughtful storytelling, I aim to document progress, challenge narratives, and contribute to a stronger Black press tradition.