Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Evan Vucci/Press Association
Our Donald
As support for 'The Donald' drops off, meet some Irish people who like the idea of President Trump
“I’d say you’d have a hard time finding someone who didn’t approve of him around these parts.”
TRUMP SUPPORTERS HAVE had a tough time lately.
Since the Republican National Convention last month, numbers have dropped off for ‘The Donald’, and the latest figures show that Hillary Clinton, his rival for the presidency, is six percentage points ahead.
During the course of his campaign, he’s made hateful comments about Muslims and Mexicans, misogynistic comments about a US television reporter, and said that he wouldn’t honour NATO until other countries pay their dues.
Just this week, he called the current US President Barack Obama “the founder of ISIS” and made comments that could have hinted at Hillary’s assassination, the latter of which he vehemently denies.
He’s also angered the Republican party for refusing to play the political game by endorsing their most important members.
But there still remain those who are staying loyal to Trump and his promise to “make America great again”. They believe that he’s going to make life better for families, and the economy stronger for businesses.
We spoke to two of Trump’s Irish supporters about why they think he should become one of the most powerful people on the planet.
John O’Dea is the chairperson of Doonbeg Community Development, a voluntary organisation that aims to encourage extra business in the west Clare town. He told TheJournal.ie that Donald Trump has been instrumental in providing jobs and investment for the town, where his golf course was built.
He purchased this land when there wasn’t a huge amount of buyers interested in it. When you walk down the town there is a line of parked cars along the way at a time when a lot of rural towns are suffering. His business employs 250-300 people at peak season times, so it’s really important for us.
Trump did raise hackles when he requested a defence plan, dubbed ‘a wall’ to run along the edge of his golf course, and the coast of Clare. The application is still pending approval, but O’Dea says that most of the objections to the plan came from people who aren’t from Doonbeg – and who probably have never been to the area.
This was something that has been requested for a long time, way before Trump came here. People back him because he’s the one who’s going to make it happen.
O’Dea is also hopeful that Trump becomes the next president of the United States, as it would mean greater investment for the area, and a boost for tourism – not just for Doonbeg, but for all of west Clare. Although he admits that Trump’s comments have been “fairly controversial”, he says that he isn’t president yet, and “we don’t know what he’d do if he got the role”.
He added:
I’d say you’d have a hard time finding someone who didn’t approve of him around these parts.
Trump’s young supporters
Sean, an Irishman in his mid-20s living in Dublin, originally wanted the socialist candidate Bernie Sanders to win the presidential election. But if given the option between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, he says he would now choose the business tycoon. He wishes to remain anonymous because aligning himself with Trump as his preferred candidate in the past has resulted in personal attacks.
“Trump is not a great candidate, I can admit that much, but Hillary represents the worst possible candidate. She flip flops on all issues, depending on how it polls stronger for her. That’s a dangerous attribute, as you never know who you’re getting.
“The one thing we do know about her, is that she voted to invade Iraq, which was deemed an illegal invasion.
“She broke top security laws and was not prosecuted (most likely because she was chosen by the Democratic Party leadership as their next President).
The US has become this global empire with clandestine state-supported terrorism, and I think they are losing control of the situation. I think they need to stop being the world’s police and focus on the utterly corrupted politicians being paid off by huge companies. And Hillary represents all of that.
“On the other hand, Trump represents a man who loves his country and who wants to secure a legacy for himself.
“I was Bernie or bust and still am. If I have to vote between those awful candidates, I would chose someone who wants to focus on America.”
have your say