DONALD TRUMP has been barred from flying to Ireland to play golf in the lead-up to the Inauguration, the Government have confirmed.
There had been numerous reports suggesting Donald Trump would leave the United States in the run-up to Joe Biden's election, as while he finally appeared to concede defeat following the siege at the Capitol, he also confirmed he would not be attending the Inauguration of his successor.
Last week, the Sunday Post reported that Trump had set plans in motion to jet off on January 19, the day before Biden's inauguration, claiming the hotelier hoped to travel to his golf and hotel resort in Scotland.
Those potential plans were quickly scrapped, however, as Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, stated that the president would not be allowed to visit.
"We are not allowing people to come in to Scotland without an essential purpose right now and that would apply to him, just as it applies to anybody else,” she told reporters.
"Coming to play golf is not what I would consider to be an essential purpose."
Sturgeon's quick refusal of any planned trip to Scotland led to concerns that Trump would take a trip across the pond to Ireland-- namely, to his hotel and golf resort in Doonbeg, County Clare.
(Image: Getty)Under the rules on incoming air passengers in Ireland, Trump would only need to provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of his departure date in order to be allowed into the country.
However, the Irish Daily Star have now revealed that this will not, in fact, be the case.
Following a request from the outlet, a Government spokesperson said they have not received any such request from the US president, but confirmed that anyone flying into Ireland can do so only for essential purposes-- and playing golf is not essential.
President Trump plays golf at his resort in County Clare"The Government is strongly advising against any international travel into Ireland except for essential purposes, as part of its strategy to deal with the COVID-19 global pandemic," the statement to the Irish Daily Star reads.
"We have not been made aware of any plans for a visit to Ireland by President Trump, and the rules on essential travel clearly outline the situations where travel into the State is permitted."
Trump would be allowed to enter the country for diplomatic reasons, but this would need to be signed off by the Government, and with just seven days left in his presidency, it is highly unlikely that this will happen.
