Trump says he’ll remove tariffs on Irish whiskey

Trump Pledges to End 10% Tariff on Irish Whiskey During Doonbeg Visit

Activelifezero.com – President Donald Trump said he plans to remove the 10% US tariff on Irish whiskey, using the closing ceremony of the Irish Open at his Doonbeg golf resort to make the announcement. The pledge came as Trump presented the tournament trophy to Irish golfer Shane Lowry, capping a short but closely watched visit to Ireland.

Trump, who does not drink alcohol, framed the decision as a response to requests from Irish political leaders, golf figures and others who had raised the issue with him. Irish whiskey has been covered by the broad tariff applied by his administration to many imports from the European Union.

“I want to mention one thing. Taoiseach and I talked about it, and Shane talked about it, and everybody’s been bugging me. They’re saying, ‘Would you do me a favor? It’s so unfair what’s going on. Could you possibly take the tariffs off of Irish whiskey?’”

The crowd reacted loudly when Trump said he would act on those appeals.

“And I said, on behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off,”

No timeline was immediately provided for when the change would take effect, and further details about the scope and implementation of the tariff decision remain unclear. The US trade representative has been asked for additional information.

A Trade Gesture With Economic and Cultural Weight

For Ireland, whiskey is both a major cultural symbol and a significant export product. A tariff can raise the cost for importers and consumers in the United States, one of the most important overseas markets for Irish spirits. Removing the charge could help Irish whiskey compete more easily on American shelves and in bars, though the practical impact will depend on the final terms of the policy.

The announcement also follows a similar step involving British whiskey. After King Charles and Queen Camilla made a state visit in April, Trump removed tariffs affecting whiskey from the United Kingdom, including Scotch. Extending comparable treatment to Irish whiskey places two closely associated spirit categories on a more favorable footing in the US market.

Trump’s remarks offered a positive trade headline at the conclusion of a trip that had also stirred political disagreement. A day earlier, the British government pushed back after Trump described Irish unification as something that would be “fantastic.” His comments touched on a highly sensitive issue involving the future of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

By Sunday, Trump emphasized the economic and historical relationship between the United States and Ireland. He said trade had been part of his bilateral discussions with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and described the connection between the countries as especially important.

“We have a big relationship with Ireland,” Trump said, adding that it would “continue stronger than ever.”

Irish Open Ceremony at Trump’s Golf Course

The tariff announcement was delivered at Trump International Golf Links Ireland in Doonbeg, County Clare, where Trump handed the Irish Open trophy to Lowry. The event made Trump the first sitting US president to attend the Irish Open.

Martin also spoke during the presentation, highlighting the Trump family’s investment in the resort and presenting the tournament weekend as an example of enduring links across the Atlantic.

“The Trump family in particular have invested very heavily in the recent decade in this golf course, making it an exceptional and one of the great key golf courses now anywhere in the world,” Martin said.

He connected the occasion to wider ties between the two countries, citing shared history, family connections and friendship as foundations of the relationship.

“In many ways, the last four days reflects also the very strong relationship, the strength of an enduring relationship between the United States of America and Ireland. We are tied together by history, by family, by friendship,” Martin said.

Trump spent much of the weekend at the Doonbeg property, where he was welcomed by supporters in the packed members bar on Saturday night with chants of “U-S-A.” He was also cheered during Sunday’s trophy presentation.

“We’re so proud of the whole Doonbeg, and, frankly, Ireland itself has been so incredible, so inviting,” Trump said.

Support Inside the Resort, Demonstrations Outside It

The atmosphere surrounding the visit was not uniformly celebratory. While Trump remained largely within the grounds of his golf club, demonstrations took place on Saturday in Dublin as well as around Doonbeg and Shannon. The protests underscored the divide between supporters attending the golf event and critics objecting to the president’s presence and positions.

Trump also met during the trip with Irish President Catherine Connolly and Martin. Those meetings, alongside the Irish Open appearance, placed diplomacy, trade and politics side by side during a visit centered on one of the president’s own properties.

The proposed removal of the Irish whiskey tariff now becomes the most tangible policy outcome of the trip. For producers, distributors and American consumers, the key question is when the administration will formalize the decision and whether it will apply broadly across Irish whiskey imports. Until those details are released, the announcement stands as a clear public commitment but not yet a fully defined trade action.