The Trump Baby Blimp was originally created as part of the 2018 London Trump protest during his visit to the UK but since then similar balloons have made appearances in Paris, Buenos Aires and several cities across the US. The infamous inflatable is set to make its Irish debut on Thursday’s protest against Trump’s visit.

Over 30 groups including the Green Party, People Before Profit and civil action groups such as United Against Racism are calling on people to protest the US President’s visit to Ireland as part of the ‘Stand Up To Trump’ campaign. The UK based civil rights group, Uplift are coordinating the arrival of the Trump Baby to Dublin.

We're joining the #StopTrumpIreland protest Thursday 6th June at 6pm at the Garden of Remembrance.

Join the protest to show him we despise his racism, sexism, transphobia, climate change denials and war mongering. #NotoTrump https://t.co/nHIaJVr0zt

— People Before Profit (@pb4p) June 4, 2019

Thousands are expected to congregate for the ‘Stand Up To Trump’ rally at the Garden of Remembrance with the Trump Baby set to fly stationary above Parnell Square. Trump has complained about the blimp in the past saying during his 2018 UK visit it made him feel “unwelcome”. While Donald Trump is not making an official state visit to Ireland yet, many feel that it is not right for the Irish government to allow the President’s visit due to his misogynistic comments, failures regarding LGBT+ issues and anti-immigrant stance.

While An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar previously said that he would welcome Donald Trump to Ireland, he addressed those who would protest his visit, “I’d say to them, this is a democracy and peaceful protest is part of democracy. And I would certainly never criticise anyone for taking part in a protest if that’s the way they wish to express their views.”

The US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Shannon Airport Wednesday afternoon following his state visit to the UK. Trump will spend the night at his golf course in Doonbeg before flying to France for ceremonies commemorating the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. He is expected to return to the Doonbeg resort Thursday evening before returning to the US.

Memet Uludag of United Against Racism Ireland and one of the organisers of the ‘Stand Up To Trump’ protests has said that more groups are joining including migrant groups, women’s groups and LGBT groups. The Irish Immigration Museum EPIC has written an open letter to Trump to make him aware “positive impact emigrants have had on the world”.

Ahead of Donald Trump's visit to Ireland, the Irish Emigration Museum has published an open letter calling on the US president to visit to learn about the "positive impact emigrants have had on the world" and reconsider his stance on immigration pic.twitter.com/As2ZLu9tpx

— Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) June 1, 2019

Although Trump is the first ever US Republican President to recognise June as Pride Month and the “outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation”, his administration recently finalised a proposal that allows medical workers not to treat transgender people based on religious reasons. While Trump attempts to present himself as an LGBT+ ally, his Trans Military Ban, his recent legislation draft allowing homeless shelters to turn away trans people and discrimination against trans people in healthcare says otherwise.

The Trump Baby Blimp is expected to be a focal point of the protest which is meeting at the National Memorial Gardens at 6:00 pm. One of the creators of Baby Trump, Kevin Smith, has been inspired by Irish people who have fought for gay marriage and abortion rights and has said “we’re presuming there’s going to be a massive show of resistance to Trump’s politics of hate and division and it would be an honour for the Trump baby to be part of that.” The Baby Blimp might not be the only Trump full of hot air following Thursday’s protest.