DONALD TRUMP’S ELECTION victory triggered a greater response from the public more than any other political event this year.
After almost all opinion polls showed that Hillary Clinton was going to win, some people were shocked when the billionaire businessman emerged the winner of the race to the presidency.
In all of this, another thing that affected Irish people was Enda Kenny’s reaction to Trump’s win.
While Kenny acknowledged Trump’s election win, an FOI request submitted by TheJournal.ie revealed that people were aggreived by An Taoiseach’s messages of congratulations, and many wrote to him to simply clarify that these comments ‘do not represent me’.
I fear that Trump presents a real and present danger to the security and prosperity of the Irish people and the world. Despite the diplomatic niceties I think it is incumbent on an Irish government to protect us from this threat not welcome it.
Another writer gave their reasons for the distancing themselves from the Taoiseach’s comments:
“I live by values and principles, I believe in respect of all people no matter their colour, race, religion, or sexual preference, I do not and will not congratulate a man who has no moral values, no respect for women, or no respect for people of a different race, colour, religion, or people who choose same-sex relationships.
I would like you to please not include me personally in your congratulations to Mr Trump, a man who is alleged to have sexually assaulted numerous women.
Another said:
“I am an Irish citizen who believes in justice, human rights and equality, values Trump has shown no regard for. I also know that a great many Irish people feel as I do and are alarmed that your expression of congratulations is made in their name.”
Others wrote to the Taoiseach asking him to make the comments in his name alone, with one citizen saying “I think your [sic] backing of him is a direct insult to our morals”.
Another writer alluded to An Taoiseach’s remarks before the election result, in which he called Trump’s comments “racist and dangerous”.
I wonder could you ask Enda if he’s is still going to tell President-Elect Trump his views are ‘racist and dangerous’ if he meets him in the White House?
Another said:
I don’t think you should have send congratulations to the racist, sexist bigot Donald Trump and l don’t think it’s acceptable to visit him for St Patrick’s Day either.
“The best reaction to this type of person is to either ignore them or condemn them. I know you did condemn his words during the campaign but it’s even more important now that he is President.”
Despite the opposition, the majority of Irish people polled support Enda Kenny visiting Trump in the White House, in the annual passing of the shamrock bowl.
A letter and a half
Of over 20 sample letters to Kenny that TheJournal.ie saw, most weren’t longer than a paragraph in length to convey disapproval of Trump’s election and a quick outline of the reasons why.
There were however, two longer letters, that give a bit of an insight into the extent of the hurt felt by citizens over the US election and Kenny’s handling of it.
So here they are in full.
“I am writing to you today to convey my deep reservations about your statements about US President Elect and his Vice President Elect Donald Trump. I understand that as Taoiseach it is customary to make congratulatory statements such as this.
“However, it must be acknowledged that Trump is uniquely damaging and divisive, and his rhetoric and movement have created a climate where many Americans, particularly people of colour, Muslims, LGBTQ people and other minorities are fearful.
Earlier this year in the Dáil, you described Trump’s rhetoric as “racist and dangerous”, which was a perfectly accurate summation then, as it is now. Please do not be revisionist and give a gloss of respectability to Trump now that he is President.
“More problematic to me was the description of Mike Pence as a proud Irish-American. Be that as it may, Mike Pence, as Governor of Indiana has been uniquely hurtful and damaging. He supports conversion therapy for LGBT young people, is responsible for the biggest HIV scare in Indiana since the height of the AIDS crisis back in the 80s, and is violently anti-abortion and anti-LGBT.
As a bisexual woman, I find Pence’s politics absolutely anathema to me, and to skirt around them is a slap in the face.
“I hope you understand where I am coming from with this. I know certain things are expected and there are certain protocols as Taoiseach, I get that – but you do not speak for me by congratulating Trump/Pence or welcoming them on behalf of the Irish.”
The second is as follows:
“I implore you to never invite this man to our shores in a presidential capacity. He represents much of the worst of American culture and parts of Irish culture we are
recovering from.
“This election in America has made me fantastically proud of Ireland’s system and our deeply flawed institutions. I feel that of the English speaking nations, it may only be us and New Zealand that can truly claim to be a stable and representative democracy. I am deeply proud of that. I have never been more proud of our democratic institutions though I never voted for you, I do not feel we are too far from from each other to see sense.
“I understand the importance of the USA and its businesses to our country. They have helped turn areas like Cork from mass unemployment to industrial centres. I ask you though – is the benefit of President Trump worth harming the progress our country has made?
“I am not a religious man, honestly I fear churches, but I know the value that the church
provides to every community in Ireland. Its repair has been won from a trust that was justifiably lost and is struggling to be earned back.
Can we invite a man like President Trump into our national community and not expect his single presence to rip open old wounds Can remove past our peoples issues an invite this man into our nation?
“Mr Kenny, I have never voted for you or your party and never will. Yet I beg you as an
Irishman, please do not let us lose our dignity just as we are earning it back.
“Please do not bend to a man like Trump. I beg you.”
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