There are no plans for Melania Trump, the first lady of the United States, to travel with president Donald Trump on his forthcoming visit to Ireland, her office confirmed on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Although the two-day visit will include a visit to \u00c1ras an Uachtar\u00e1in by Trump, where he will separately meet President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Michael Martin on September 12th, it is not an official state visit.<\/p>\n
The meeting at the Phoenix Park residence has been designated a courtesy call rather than an official meeting.<\/p>\n
The decision not to travel is in keeping with the infrequent public appearances by the first lady during her husband\u2019s second term in office.<\/p>\n
Although she travelled for the state visit to England, where the Trumps were hosted by King Charles at Windsor Castle in May of 2025, she was absent for the US presidential three day-visit to China in May of this year.<\/p>\n
Melania Trump accompanied her husband at the World Cup final in Meadowlands on July 19th but, following a month out of the spotlight, she returned to public life at a White House event on August 20th. <\/p>\n
She was in attendance for Donald Trump\u2019s first presidential visit to Ireland in June 2019 when the couple stayed at Trump\u2019s golf resort in Doonbeg.<\/p>\n
It is believed that his sons, Don Jr and Eric, will also be in attendance but will not be travelling as part of the presidential delegation.<\/p>\n
Following his meetings, the US president is due to fly from Dublin to Shannon Airport, possibly travelling by helicopter, to stay in his Doonbeg<\/a> golf course in Co Clare and watch the Irish Open<\/a>, which will conclude on Sunday. <\/p>\n It is anticipated Trump will present the trophy to the winning player on Sunday evening before returning to Washington.<\/p>\n Separately, Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin<\/a> has said he has no concerns \u201cat all\u201d about what might come up when Trump<\/a> meets Connolly<\/a> next week. Martin said it was \u201cappropriate and proper\u201d Connolly would meet Trump during his visit to Ireland next weekend.<\/p>\n The Fianna F\u00e1il<\/a> leader also said people have a right to protest against the visit but it was important they were \u201crespectful and they respect the rights of others who will be participating in events over the weekend\u201d.<\/p>\n Spokespeople for parties of the left all accepted that Connolly \u2013 an outspoken defender of Palestine before her election as president \u2013 would meet Trump in \u00c1ras an Uachtar\u00e1in in her role as head of State.<\/p>\n Paul Murphy of People Before Profit said Connolly has \u201cno choice\u201d but to meet Trump, especially given the commitments she made during the election, but added he expects her to challenge Trump on Palestine.<\/p>\n \u201cIf she was not to follow through with [meeting Trump], then people would accuse her of breaking the commitment she made during the election,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cBut I have every confidence that she will express her views, which I think are views shared by the majority of the Irish public, in an appropriately diplomatic way to Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n Zoe Lawlor, chair of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said \u201cno Irish politician or official should meet Trump, or any US President, while the United States remains an active partner in Israel\u2019s genocide\u201d.<\/p>\n The logistical details of Trump\u2019s brief visit and the significant security operation surrounding it are being finalised by officials.<\/p>\n Trump is expected to meet US ambassador Edward Walsh, whose Deerfield residence in Phoenix Park is a short distance from \u00c1ras an Uachtar\u00e1in and Farmleigh House, where the Republican<\/a> leader is to meet Martin.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did indicate that he would be anxious to get to the Irish Open in Doonbeg and we did say to him that we would like to have them at the Irish Open,\u201d Martin told reporters in Dublin on Thursday. <\/p>\n The Taoiseach said the relationship between Ireland and the US was \u201cvery important\u201d and \u201ceconomically it\u2019s very significant, both ways\u201d. <\/p>\n