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Trump’s America Believe it or not, he's not always the main topic of conversation stateside

In the US, Larry Donnelly expected to encounter rage and indignation over Trump, but instead found indifference and resignation.

LAST UPDATE | 21 Apr

FIVE YEARS AGO, Galway – my ancestral and adopted county, whose people have genuinely taken me in since I arrived in 2001 – was denied a trip to New York. My pals from Tuam and I had discussed and planned flying to the Big Apple since our short journey to London to watch the maroon and white play in Ruislip in 2019.

But Covid-19 reared its ugly head and we wound up having to wait until earlier this month for a long anticipated mission to see Galway do battle with a feisty New York squad enjoying its annual day out in the opener of the Connacht Football Championship. We were joined by family and friends from Boston, San Francisco, Toronto and Pennsylvania, with disparate degrees of knowledge of and interest in the GAA, for much more than a football match.

It was, as ever, a celebration of Ireland in the United States and of the Gaelic games that are such an intrinsic element of Irishness. Indeed, it was striking initially to be on a Aer Lingus flight chock full of Galway supporters and subsequently to listen to groups of men, women and children holding forth on what could lie in store for the Tribesmen this summer in Manhattan hostelries and diners as if they were in Taaffes Pub on Shop Street.

Though the New Yorkers, who I was shouting against both as a Bostonian and a Galwegian, fought hard in the first half, Galway pulled ahead and won it handily in the end. The atmosphere in Gaelic Park and throughout the city was extraordinary; it was impossible not to have a blast. Just don’t ask for too many details. It was one of those occasions that we may not entirely remember, yet equally, will never forget.

Trump’s America

The Galway-New York clash and the Masters, a golf tournament that truly is a tradition unlike any other, bookended the week or so I was in the country of my birth. They provided a nice respite from the intense, unavoidable focus on the presidency of Donald Trump. Even at this incipient stage, the astonishing pace and undeniable extremism of Trump 2.0 already have casual observers, not to mention those of us who monitor politics religiously, reeling.

For obvious and compelling reasons, the Irish media has covered Trump’s actions, in particular his, to date, “bait and switch” approach to tariffs incessantly. It has dominated the headlines and comprised a sizeable percentage of the substance of the broadcast, print and digital content this relatively well-informed citizenry consumes on a daily basis. And if I had a euro for every time the same question has been posed to me – “What will Trump do next?” – I would be a rich man.

caricature-of-donald-trump-with-his-iconic-red-hat-at-a-souvenir-shop-in-new-york-city Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

It is exceedingly strange, then, to nearly feel that a period spent in the nation where he actually is in charge was an escape from the most controversial individual on the planet. Of course, Trump’s words and deeds collectively are and will remain the biggest story in the US in his tenure in the White House, and perhaps thereafter. That said, to put it colloquially, he isn’t the only show in town stateside.

Making the news

Pundits on cable news networks do nightly debate the merits of what has swiftly proved an unprecedented presidency; he is the lead item on national and local news bulletins, and he does feature as a topic wherever regular Americans gather. But there are happenings nationally and regionally that garner at least as much attention in the media and among the population as, for instance, the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs.

Additionally, while outrage is a constant in examinations of Trump’s presidency in Europe, and certainly rampant at large rallies led by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez across the US, it was a struggle to unearth it in New York or Boston, neither a bastion of conservatism. Instead, a blend of indifference and resignation was more prevalent. People are getting on with their lives.

republic-presidential-nominee-donald-trump-holds-a-press-conference-on-the-9th-hole-tee-with-his-family-members-don-eric-and-ivanka-at-his-trump-turnberry-golf-course-in-turnberry-scotland-on-24 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Supremely fascinating to me – primarily because I find analysis centring on revulsion and condemnation, albeit unassailable, distinctly unedifying when uncoupled from political reality, as it often is in Ireland – were the sentiments of Trump voters. Contrary to widespread perception beyond the borders of the US, those I encountered were not dumb, nor ignorant, nor brainwashed by algorithms online.

In fact, what I heard and overheard was typically prefaced by a disclaimer: “A lot of what is going on is crazy and I totally disagree with it, but…” This presumably could refer to any or all of the array of profoundly disturbing things currently unfolding at home and abroad. A Trump backer is not per se a Trump lover.

The commentary following the “but” revolved around three points. First, the US is broken and in need of comprehensive surgery. Second, there may be bumps now. Still, Trump will be better for me and my family financially. Third, in a contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, he was the only choice.

They’re backing Trump

The vast majority of us in this part of the world dispute their assessments to varying extents as we witness from afar shocking attacks on colleges and universities, immigrants and the judicial branch of government. Nonetheless, my anecdotal experience that the women and men who went for Trump last November aren’t for moving is borne out by CNN polling, indicating that merely 2% of them would opt for another candidate six months on. Naturally, that might change.

president-donald-trump-speaks-during-an-easter-prayer-service-and-dinner-in-the-blue-room-of-the-white-house-in-washington-wednesday-april-16-2025-pool-via-ap Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Without wishing to further desecrate a dead horse that has been flogged repeatedly in this space, the opposition has done precious little to bolster its electability. During my stay, just four congressional Democrats had the guts to cross the aisle and endorse a bill requiring proof of citizenship before availing of the sacred right to vote. 208 of their party colleagues committed an act of monumental political stupidity.

A GOP member spoke convincingly for the 83% of Americans (according to Gallup) who concur with this common sense proposition: “This past week and today, all we hear are the Democrats sharing their concerns that rural Americans, women and people of colour are not capable of getting an ID. This is insulting, condescending and an untrue argument. You need an ID for most everything else in daily life.”

The best means of curtailing the worst impulses of President Trump and his lackeys is at the ballot box in the 2026 midterms. Democrats should be ideally situated to succeed, but can they when they are strategically inept and out of touch with Americans on a host of key issues?

Immediately upon returning from the US, it was thrilling to watch Rory McIlroy vanquish the rest of the field and his naysayers to win the Masters, the career Grand Slam and sporting immortality. The glee was shared by golfers and non-golfers alike, who were transfixed by the drama on their screens in every city, town, village and rural area on this island. Happy distractions are hugely welcome in 2025.

Larry Donnelly is a Boston lawyer, a Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and a political columnist with TheJournal.ie.

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    Mute Robert Bell
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    Apr 21st 2025, 7:52 AM

    Keep crying Larry.

    109
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    Mute David Glynn
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    Apr 21st 2025, 7:58 AM

    Most countries all over Europe have the same problem with lack of housing and people fleeing conflict doesn’t help matters.
    People want change and are giving into the looney right like whats happening in America.
    Let this be an example of what can go horribly wrong when you vote for the hillbillies.

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    Mute Finn Barr
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    Apr 21st 2025, 8:11 AM

    @David Glynn: ‘fleeing conflict’ lol! Most ‘asylum seekers’ are economic migrants, even according to Michael Martin and Jim O Callaghan. Nothing stopping them applying for a visa and going through the proper legal channels like the rest of them…or maybe they have something to hide and wouldn’t pass the vetting that all that would entail?

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    Mute Dvsespaña
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    Apr 21st 2025, 8:24 AM

    @David Glynn: Leaving aside the divisive question of immigrants adding to the housing crisis across Europe entirely, and please explain why there is a housing crisis across Europe?

    Because on the face of it, your comment appears to imply that this Europe wide housing crisis is being caused by some naturally occurring set of circumstances, and that its replication across Europe somehow supports and validates that conclusion…

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Apr 21st 2025, 8:43 AM

    @David Glynn: We have one of the biggest intake per capa of tax and turning over a massive surplus every month. Housing could be sorted out if the will was there, but unfortunately, there are too many landlords in the Dail

    41
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    Mute honey badger
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    Apr 21st 2025, 8:57 AM

    @Shaun Gallagher: How would “the will” magic the 120,000 extra builders that the CFI say we need to meet building targets?

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    Mute Kev Kerr
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    Apr 21st 2025, 9:30 AM

    @Finn Barr: “apply for a visa” lol, there are bugger all available. Hold the front page, desperate people resort to desperate measures.

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    Mute Mary Linton
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    Apr 21st 2025, 9:37 AM

    @Kev Kerr: hence, you condone & cheerlead uncontrolled unlimited mass immigration by illegal economic migrants ———- but because kevvy/ kev/ kevin thinks the LEGAL process might be a bit burdensome it OK to break our laws

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    Mute Kev Kerr
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    Apr 21st 2025, 9:45 AM

    @Mary Linton: I empathise with the people and don’t, like the person I responded to, assume that they are all criminals

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Apr 21st 2025, 9:25 AM

    An example that explains Trump’s actions. Irish politicians allowed sugar factories in Ireland close and now we are depending on imports. The US has up till now ignored the destruction of its industries by unfair competition from abroad and the presumption that American soldiers will die to protect woke countries of Europe. Not any more.

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    Mute Mike B
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    Apr 21st 2025, 9:45 AM

    @thomas molloy: nonsense, your “president of peace” is carpet bombing Yemen as we speak under orders from USrael, I suppose their “woke” too

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    Mute Numinous20111
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    Apr 21st 2025, 9:23 AM

    Those are 3 jaw dropping beliefs by Trump voters. 1) They think a broken system is an excuse to elect someone who will thrash it. 2) They think they themselves will be financially better of 3) Trump was the better candidate. Any candidate was better than Trump. Literally any candidate. Magic. That’s most voters’ idea of how things happen. They don’t know how. They wouldn’t understand or accept an explanation of how things work. They vote based on candidate X will magically do things that don’t hold up to any reasoning.

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    Mute Nigel Baldock
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    Apr 21st 2025, 10:08 AM

    All the Irish “out foreign” could be described as economic migrants, most of my mother’s family members were.

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    Mute Tom D
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    Apr 21st 2025, 11:24 AM

    @Adam H2022: Irish migrants to the US at the end of 19th century brought infectious diseases like cholera sparking epidemics, they lived in their own parts of town and didnt mix, they caused masive spikes in crime (e.g Paddywagon) drunkeness, brawls. extortion etc. In the UK, it was the same and many ended up scamming the social welfare system. Even today with recent waves of irish migrants in Australia, the Irish still stick
    together and don’t really mix and have a reputation for drunkeness, wrecking rented apartments and of irish contractors doing shoddy work. So get off your high horse.

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    Mute Mike B
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    Apr 21st 2025, 11:47 AM

    @Tom D: Not like they had a choice, discrimination towards Irish and Black people was rife back then including famine and slavery

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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Apr 21st 2025, 2:13 PM

    @Adam H2022: So you’re an economic migrant? Interesting.

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    Mute Kev Kerr
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    Apr 21st 2025, 3:28 PM

    @Adam H2022: bully for you, aren’t you great. You’re no different to the vast majority of immigrants who come to Ireland, nor the vast majority of Irish emigrants

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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Apr 21st 2025, 9:38 AM

    Why is every article on Trump accompanied by silly pictures of him. We all know what he looks like. A f00L.

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    Mute Rian O'Callaghan
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    Apr 21st 2025, 5:23 PM

    Larry is a perfect example of why President Trump is now in power. He looney left nonsense backfired spectacularly

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    Mute John Moore
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    Apr 21st 2025, 5:22 PM

    Whatever the motivations of voters in the US maybe feeling like something just had to change and Trump was offering actual change you sometimes have to be careful what you wish for. He obviously has no morals, lies incessantly, has a limited simplistic view of the world and has authoritarian tendencies. Not to mention a slew of other things he has done over the years. He has banged on about tariffs for 40 years then tried to implement the whole thing disastrously like it was written out on the back of a napkin. Just because somebody comes along offering this and that doesn’t mean you should go with it. It’s all eerily reminiscent of the Brexit fiasco.

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    Mute Ed Ruttledge
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    Apr 22nd 2025, 1:07 PM

    Most of ‘Murica does not give a f*ck one way or the other so long as they have streaming NFL and NASCAR. Even reruns will work. For those who are educated beyond the 10th grade (a diminishing percentage of the dumbed down ‘Murican population), Tumpism is a constant subject of concern.

    I exercised the strength of my dual citizenship. I left MAGAland and the dumf*ks – … and moved to Ireland… a nation of mostly civil and intelligent people. Cherish your Irish citizenship and … eschew the dangerous dumf*ks from the US. Be safe.

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