Unfortunately, none of this chimes with the new Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) study showing how Irish adults vastly overestimate immigration and underestimate immigrants. Just over 4 in 10 born here have third level education; the figure for migrants is 6 in 10. The true figures are 9 per cent (for those born in Ireland) and 6 per cent. The aim of Steve Bannon, former Trump strategist and leading advocate of the “America First” immigration policy – to help Eddie Hobbs set up an Irish national party and anoint an Irish Trump by reaching out to the US diaspora – have been well publicised. The real question here is not whether the coming of an Irish Trump is likely, but why Irish and Irish-American Trump supporters haven’t already died of embarrassment.

Source: The Irish Times January 21, 2026 15:01 UTC