Story summary
President Donald Trump is set to visit Ireland next week, but his travel plans are being overshadowed by controversy over the use of a Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8, known as Air Force One, which has raised security concerns. The plane was gifted to the US in 2025 and modified for presidential use after the original custom-built planes were delayed.
Trump will touch down at Dublin Airport on September 11, the day after the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and will then attend a ceremony to turn the sod on the new US Embassy complex in Ballsbridge. He is also expected to meet with President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
The $400 million aircraft has been criticized for its lack of security features compared to the heavily modified planes traditionally used as Air Force One, which have missile-defense systems built-in. Despite these concerns, Trump has said that the plane will be "maxed out" with additional security upgrades, a process that he claims will take about 60 days.
The decision to use the Qatari jet for international travel comes after Trump secretly switched planes in July while leaving a NATO summit in Turkey amid threats against him from Iran. The plane's first foreign trip since this incident is set to be its visit to Ireland next week, where it will face further scrutiny over its security capabilities.
In preparation for his visit, the Irish government has been making arrangements for Trump's travel and accommodations. He will fly to Co. Clare after meeting with most Cabinet members and hosting a press conference at the Phoenix Park. However, instead of staying in a designated accommodation provided by the state, Trump is determined to spend the night at the presidential suite in his family-owned hotel in Doonbeg, which hosts the Irish Open golf tournament next weekend.
The US Secret Service will oversee a massive security operation to ensure Trump's safety during his visit, including two helicopter gunships escorting Marine One from Dublin Airport to Arás an Uachtaráin.
Written for “Trump's Irish Trip Security Controversy” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
The US Secret Service will oversee a massive security operation to ensure Donald Trump can sleep at his Doonbeg Hotel following a packed day of official meetings when he arrives in the country next weekend, the Mail can reveal.
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Mail → oversee → country
Trump will be flown to Co. Clare, accompanied by two helicopter gunships, after meeting with most Cabinet members and hosting the first press conference by a US president here since George Bush visited in 2004.
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Bush → fly → 2004
The US president will touch down in Dublin Airport in his new Air Force One Boeing 747-8 – provided by the Qatari government – on Saturday morning, the day after the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
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president → touch → attacks
Once he lands, the biggest security operation in the history of the State will swing into action.
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operation → land → action
Trump will be greeted at Dublin Airport – the runaway at Baldonnel is not big enough to accommodate his €400million plane – by the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, before being flown to the Phoenix Park in the Marine One Sikorsky helicopter.
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runaway → greet → helicopter
Two Blackhawk gunships will escort Marine One from Dublin Airport to Arás an Uachtaráin, where – as first revealed in the Mail – Trump will have a short courtesy meeting with President Catherine Connolly.
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Trump → escort → Connolly
He will then travel in the bullet and bomb-proof US armoured Cadillac limousine – known as ‘The Beast’ – the short distance to the State Residence at Farmleigh, where he will hold a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
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he → travel → Martin
However, the US president will not stay at Farmleigh overnight.
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president → stay → Farmleigh
The US president will touch down in Dublin Airport in his new Air Force One Boeing 747-8
Instead, sources familiar with the security operation said Trump is determined to spend the night at the presidential suite in his family-owned hotel in Doonbeg, which hosts the Irish Open golf tournament next weekend.
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which → touch → tournament
US Security Service sources said Trump will again board Marine One for the short trip back to Dublin Airport, again accompanied by the two gunships.
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Trump → say → gunships
He will then be flown by Air Force One to Shannon Airport, where he will be met by a second group of armoured helicopters, which were transported to the west of Ireland in an enormous Boeing C-17 Globemaster military cargo aeroplane on Thursday.
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which → fly → Thursday
On the final leg of his cross-country journey, Trump will fly to Doonbeg, where he will make a dramatic entrance as the curtain falls on the third and penultimate day’s play of the Irish Open.
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curtain → fly → Open
On Thursday, the Mail met with the members of the large US Secret Service detail who have been on the ground in Co. Clare for more than two weeks.
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who → meet → weeks
One experienced security official – who was in Ireland for Trump’s previous visit in 2019 – said virtually all the US president’s travel will be done by air.
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travel → say → air
Donald Trump giving Rory McIlroy his 3-iron back during a round of golf.
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giving → give → golf
They told the MoS: ‘We are conscious of Ireland’s lack of adequate air power, which actually makes ground travel more security deficient.
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travel → tell → power
It is far better for our purposes that the president travels everywhere by air.’
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president → travel → air
The Government views Trump’s decision to hold meetings with President Connolly and the Taoiseach – as well as most Cabinet ministers at the Ambassador’s residence – as a ‘diplomatic triumph’.
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Government → view → triumph
One minister told the MoS: ‘The President of the United States doesn’t fly to small countries like Ireland and hold meetings with their Government very often.
‘
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President → tell → Government
Indeed, I can’t think of any other similar instance, for a country lacking significant strategic importance, so this is something that many other countries would be envious of.
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countries → think → that
‘We, the Government, do not view it as an opportunity to be making the kind of points the hard-left would like to be.
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left → view → points
‘This is high-level diplomacy and will be conducted to serve the interests of Ireland.’
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This → conduct → Ireland
Other senior Government sources welcomed the unexpected news that the US president will host a press conference after his meeting with the Taoiseach at Farmleigh.
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president → welcome → Farmleigh
His predecessor Joe Biden – who has close Irish family links – did not host a press event during his visit to the country in 2023.
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who → have → 2023
As Ireland currently holds the EU Presidency, Mr Martin will be representing the union’s foreign affairs interests, and tariffs are certain to be a subject of discussion, as well as security.
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tariffs → hold → discussion
Former US president Donald Trump playing golf at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Co. Clare, during his 2023 visit to Ireland
President Catherine Connolly
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Trump → play → Ireland
One Government official told the MoS: ‘We expect the press event to be something similar to what the public are used to seeing, which is a “spray” in the Oval Office.
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which → tell → Office
After a packed day of official meetings in Dublin, Trump’s huge security detail will escort the US president to Doonbeg, where the he and First Lady Melania dined in the golf clubhouse during their 2019 visit.
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he → escort → visit
On that occasion, the Mail attended dinner with the couple, when Trump enjoyed fish and chips, which is still on the menu at €29, although Melania will not be joining her husband on this visit.
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Melania → attend → visit
US administration sources said Trump was determined to stay at his hotel to maximise publicity for his Irish business.
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Trump → say → business
This week, the MoS witnessed US Secret Service personnel reconnoitring locations Trump may choose to visit next Sunday, including, Bunratty Castle, one of the country’s most famous historic buildings.
uncertain
Trump → witness → buildings
However, it is expected Trump will remain at Doonbeg to watch the conclusion of the Irish Open, in which his friend and Irish six-time major champion Rory McIlroy will be competing.
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friend → expect → which
Marine One helicopter arrives at Trump International Golf Resort Doonbeg, west of Ireland, Thursday, June 6, 2019
The tournament is expected to conclude at around 6pm, but if a playoff is required, it could extend to 7pm.
uncertain
it → arrive → pm
President Trump will then return by helicopter to Shannon Airport before boarding Air Force One for his return flight to the US.
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Trump → return → US
A contingent of US Marines is staying at a city centre hotel in Limerick and armed personnel carriers and other vehicles continued to arrive at Shannon this weekend on C-17 aircraft.
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carriers → stay → aircraft
A US administration source said: ‘This is a good news trip for President Trump, he does not see the Irish as opponents in any fashion, and he really is keen to see his golf course, Doonbeg.
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he → say → course
‘The official aspects of the visit have been negotiated by [US Ambassador to Ireland] Ed [Walsh] and far surpass the interaction President Trump had when he visited Ireland in 2019.
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he → negotiate → 2019
The fact that Ireland holds the EU Presidency does heighten the seriousness of the talks with the Taoiseach, however.’
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Ireland → hold → Taoiseach
This week it was widely reported Trump will meet with President Connolly during his visit, a fact highlighted by the Mail two weeks ago.
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Trump → report → Mail
Despite her past criticisms of the US President, the Government has no concerns about the meeting at Áras an Uachtaráin.
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Government → have → Uachtaráin
…and 6 more, not listed.
