Flatley playing the flute, An Taoiseach and Dermot Desmond chatting animatedly, and exactly why Trump called the Irish ‘vicious bastards’ – John Lee brings you behind the scenes at the Ambassador’s reception
Daily Mail journalist John Lee describes attending a private early-morning event for US President Donald Trump at the American Ambassador's residence in Dublin's Phoenix Park, arranged via US Ambassador Ed Walsh. The piece offers a behind-the-scenes account of the security, secrecy and logistics surrounding a presidential visit to Ireland, illustrating the mix of glamour and tedium involved in such high-profile diplomatic gatherings.
Guests, including senators, former TDs and business leaders from firms such as Microsoft, Amazon and CRH, were bussed to the residence, Deerfield, in the dark before dawn and made to wait roughly five hours in a marquee amid entertainment including Michael Flatley playing the flute and a rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. Around 200 attendees were present, among them former Fine Gael ministers Lucinda Creighton, Simon Coveney and Brian Hayes, with the article promising further detail on remarks Trump reportedly made describing the Irish as "vicious bastards."
- Journalist recounts secretive early-morning Trump event at US Ambassador's Dublin residence
- Around 200 business and political figures waited hours before Trump's appearance
- Michael Flatley performed, and Trump reportedly called the Irish "vicious bastards"