President Trump stood at his own golf resort in Ireland and told the crowd he was dropping the tariff on their whiskey, and they cheered like he’d sunk a hole in one.
Quick Take
- President Trump announced at the Irish Open in Doonbeg that he will remove the U.S. tariff on Irish whiskey.
- He said Taoiseach Micheál Martin and golfers, including Shane Lowry, had pushed him to make the move.
- Reports describe the current tariff as 10 percent, tied to the broader 15 percent rate on European Union goods.
- Trump later told reporters the tariff cut applies only to Irish whiskey, not to other European Union products.
What Trump Said And Where He Said It
Trump made the announcement on the closing day of the Irish Open, held at his Trump International Golf Links resort in Doonbeg, County Clare. He told the crowd, “Everybody’s been bugging me… Could you possibly take the tariffs off of Irish whiskey?”
Then he answered his own question. “On behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off,” he said, drawing loud cheers from fans gathered on the course.
Reuters, Politico, the New York Times, the Associated Press, ITV, and Al Jazeera all reported the same core announcement from the same event on September 13, 2026. That kind of wide, independent coverage from separate newsrooms leaves little doubt about what Trump said or where he said it.
Who Asked Him For The Favor
Trump said he didn’t just wake up thinking about whiskey tariffs. He pointed to specific people who had lobbied him directly, including Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin and professional golfers at the tournament.
Reuters reported he received multiple requests to lift the tariff, and named Martin among those who asked. Golfer Shane Lowry was also mentioned in connection with the appeals made to Trump during his visit.
That detail matters because it turns a policy announcement into a personal story. A sitting president, standing on his own golf course, granting a request from a foreign head of government and a hometown sports hero, makes for a memorable scene. It also explains why the crowd reaction was so immediate and loud, according to reporters on the ground.
How Big The Tariff Actually Is
Most of the reporting describes the tariff at 10 percent, which sits inside the broader 15 percent rate the United States charges on European Union wine and spirit imports overall.
Reuters and Al Jazeera both used the 10 percent figure specifically for Irish whiskey. ITV News reported the same rate, tying it to the general EU tariff structure now in place.
One video transcript summary described the rate as 15 percent instead of 10 percent, creating a small inconsistency in the public record.
Whichever figure proves precise, the bigger point stands. Irish whiskey has faced added cost getting into the American market, and Trump says that cost is going away.
Ireland Only, Not All Of Europe
Trump clarified his intent later the same day. He told reporters he plans to remove the tariff on Irish whiskey specifically, not on other European Union products swept into the broader 15 percent tariff regime.
That distinction is important for anyone assuming this opens the door to a wider tariff rollback across European goods. It does not, at least based on what Trump has said publicly so far.
Why This Fits A Familiar Trade Pattern
Tariffs on Irish and Scotch whiskey have bounced around for years, tangled up in fights over steel, aluminum, and even the Airbus-Boeing dispute dating back to 2019. Rates have swung between zero, 25 percent, and 15 percent depending on the diplomatic mood of the moment.
A public announcement like this one typically comes before the paperwork, with formal tariff changes usually following through executive orders and customs notices after the applause fades.
What Happens Next For Drinkers And Distillers
Irish whiskey exports to the American market are worth hundreds of millions of euros a year, making the United States the industry’s single biggest customer.
A tariff cut, once formally in place, would lower costs for importers and could eventually mean better prices for American shoppers browsing the whiskey aisle.
For now, the industry has a presidential promise made in front of cheering fans, and trade watchers will be looking for the follow-through that turns a golf course pledge into signed policy.
Sláinte! Trump Scraps 10% Tariff on All Irish Whiskey as Parting Gift ~ https://t.co/3DGFexnZlM
— MikeKirby (@mikekirbyone) September 14, 2026
Whatever paperwork comes next, Trump made his intentions clear in front of a live crowd and a stack of cameras, on Irish soil, at his own resort, with the Taoiseach and a hometown golf hero looking on.
Sources:
thegatewaypundit.com, aljazeera.com, politico.com, nytimes.com, ajc.com, essentiallysports.com
