Leahy: Response of some politicians to Trump visit is "juvenile, adolescent politics"

Offaly councillor John Leahy who is leader of RENUA Ireland says the party welcomes US President Donald Trump to Ireland.

In a hard-hitting statement, Leahy said: “It is time our dated political elite abandoned the '60s and their little college rebellions and behaved like mature adults.”

He criticised what he called the “hypocrisy and political opportunism” that has informed the actions and responses of other parties and in particular the Independent Alliance’’

“They should note Mr Trump is the democratically elected leader of America. He is elected because, unlike the elitist Hilary Clinton, he listened to the voices and concerns of the American equivalent of those who get up early in the morning. 

“For those who cannot get over it they might consider why it is that so many working people rejected Hilary Clinton. 

 “We can only presume that in the case of Labour, the Greens, the Social Democrats and their allies that they have a similar attitude to working people in Ireland. 

“Little in their past acts and current attitudes suggest otherwise.”

Stating that there were many elements of Trump's policies that Renua disagreed with, he insisted however that it was “juvenile, adolescent politics” to treat him “like some form of international war criminal”.

“We respect the office of President and we respect those who voted for him. Those who are mature politicians realise we need, particularly in the context of a world being shaped by Brexit, to maintain warm relations with one of the world’s economic super-powers. 

“We also need to build close relations with America to ensure we develop a solution to our lost exiles.”

“Protest is a legitimate response to state visits. But real politicians engage in dialogue to bring our country forward.”