Irish political leader says it is "vital" that Trump does not get re-elected

Roderic O'Gorman, the leader of Ireland's Green Party and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of Ireland, is highly critical of US Presidential nominee Donald Trump, particularly for his views on climate change. 

“During his campaign, Mr. Trump has called climate change a ‘hoax’ and ‘one of the great scams of all time’,” O'Gorman said, according to the Irish Mirror on Monday, the day before the US elections.

“He also promised to scrap clean energy projects, incentives for electric cars, and unleash a 'drill, baby, drill' wave of oil and gas projects. The US is already the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter after China.

"It is vital that Donald Trump does not win this election.

“Tragically, the flooding in Spain has reminded all of us just what climate change means for ordinary people. The next few years will be crucial for the future of the planet. A Trump victory would be a disaster because he will encourage fossil fuel use in the US when they need to reduce use.

“It will also be a disaster because US backsliding on commitments will discourage other countries from cutting emissions.”

The Irish Mirror added that O’Gorman also expressed concerns that Trump “plans to lead another US retreat from global climate diplomacy” that will see him exit the Paris Agreement.

O'Gorman further expressed concern that a Trump victory would “harm the prospects for the United Nations climate negotiations in Baku that begins six days after the US presidential election."

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O'Gorman, who was assaulted while canvassing over the weekend, has long been critical of Trump, and not just for the former US President's thoughts on climate change.

"We can't allow Pres Trump use Patrick's Day celebrations to mask the inherent racism behind his anti-refugee policy," O'Gorman said on X in 2017, in response to then-Green Party leader Eamon Ryan's calls for then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny to "put off" his St. Patrick's Day visit to the Trump White House.

The following year, O'Gorman, replying to a post from Simon Coveney confirming Trump's visit in November, said on X that "President Trump is not welcome" in Ireland.

The same day, O'Gorman said he would be protesting Trump's Irish visit, adding "Let’s show him what Ireland thinks of his politics."

More recently, O'Gorman shared a picture on  X of a jack-o-lantern depicting Trump behind bars that he encountered while canvassing last week.

"This was my favorite door," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Leo Varadkar, who resigned as Taoiseach in March, told The Journal in June: “I don’t think it’s a good thing for America or the world for President Trump to be re-elected."

As Taoiseach, Varadkar met with President Trump a number of times both in Ireland and the US.

At the time of publication on Monday afternoon, Trump and his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris were heading into election day in a dead heat, according to The Hill, citing 345 polls.