Move FM Global News

DOONBEG, Ireland – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s decision to stay at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, Co Clare, during his official visit to Ireland is attracting criticism at home.

Doonbeg is approximately 276 kilometres from Dublin where all of the official meetings are taking place, and is on the opposite side of the country. Mr Pence is having to commute to and from Doonberg and the capital.

Critics say the vice president is crawling to the president, seeking favour for providing business and publicity for Trump’s business.

Pence’s Chief of Staff Marc Short has admitted the decision to stay at the Trump property was made after the president suggested it.

He also admitted the cost for the stay for Pence and his vast entourage would not be complimentary, the bill would be picked up by U.S. tax payers.

Short was quick to point out however that Mr Pence’s office did follow protocol and got the State Department to sign-off on the accommodation arrangements.

He pointed out that the Trump International Golf Links is the only facility in the Doonberg area that could put up the Pence entourage. He did not clarify why the team was required to stay in Doonberg, and not the capitalDublin, for example.

Situated on over 400 acres on the oceanfront, the Trump Doonbeg has been named the #1 Resort in Europe by Conde Nast Traveler.

Accompanying the vice president on his trip to Ireland is his wife, his mother and his sister. His chief of staff was quick to point out the costs of Mr Pence’s mother and his sister were being taken care of by the vice president,

Criticism of the vice president has come on the same day that President Trump himself spent at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. There he was playing golf on Monday, where he also played on Saturday. This on a weekend where he pulled out of a trip to Poland to commemorate the start of World War II, to be on hand to monitor and manage the fallout from Hurricane Dorian.

As CNN has pointed out, the president’s visit to Trump National marked the 289th day he has spent at a Trump property, and the 227th day he has spent at one of his golf clubs since he became president.

(Image credit: Damian Eagers).