Roderic O'Gorman does not regret saying Donald Trump presidency would be a 'disaster'

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman does not regret a statement he issued this week stating that Donald Trump being elected as US President would be a “disaster”.

The former President and Republican nominee will be the next US President following what appears to be a landslide win over Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

On Monday, hours before the US election was due to take place, Mr O’Gorman issued a scathing statement about Mr Trump. The third coalition leader said it was “vital” that Mr Trump does not win.

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In a new statement on Wednesday, Mr O’Gorman said he accepted the results but extended “solidarity and support” to women in the US amid fears over what a Trump administration will mean for reproductive rights. The Green Party leader also raised concerns about what Mr Trump’s presidency would mean for climate action.

“A core function of any democracy is respect for the outcome, and so I acknowledge the vote of the American people for Donald Trump as their President,” Mr O’Gorman said.

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“I have no doubt that Ireland will continue to have a close relationship with the United States. We cannot let this result undermine the significant progress that is being made in many countries such as Ireland to tackle the devastating impact of climate change.

“I would also like to extend my solidarity and support to the women in America whose reproductive rights have been curtailed in recent years, and for whom this result brings great uncertainty.”

Asked by the Irish Mirror if Minister O’Gorman regretted issuing the statement on Monday rallying against Mr Trump, his spokesman responded: “No.”

Elsewhere, Taoiseach Simon Harris denied that he also attempted to wade into the US Election by posting a “Harris 2024” cap on his Instagram.

“Look what arrived in my post this morning,” he wrote on October 21.

“If the cap fits…”

When the post was brought up by Independent TD Mattie McGrath in the Dáil, Mr Harris said he was “trying to give a helpful tip to get the posters ready this year and not wait until next year”.

The Taoiseach congratulated Mr Trump on his “victory”. He said: “Ireland and the United States have deep and historical bonds of people, and we will work to make these even stronger in the years ahead. The world faces many challenges and needs leadership to meet them.

“With the US and Ireland’s shared commitment to democracy and international law, we can, and will, tackle these challenges.”

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin also congratulated Mr Trump, saying the Irish Government would “look forward to working with him and his new administration in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration”.

He added: “The high level of political bipartisan interest in Irish issues among US politicians and officials is, and will continue to be, invaluable. Regular, high level, political engagement, both with the new US administration and on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill, will be a high priority for the Government.”

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