Does Irish America are heading towards the Republican Party?

The return of American president Donald Trump to the White House was fueled by the philosophy “America First”.

This has two main elements – a radical rethinking the role played by the United States on the international scene and “protectionist” economic policies.

Trump reflects a broader change in America, towards the law of the political spectrum.

As our documentary discovered, Trump, prices and us, he collected support for this new direction with many different elements within American society, notably Irish America.

While the previous American presidents, mainly those of the Democratic Party, are strongly interested in Northern Ireland and in the peace process – think that Bill Clinton and Joe Biden – currently seem, at least, to have its goal elsewhere rather than what could happen in Belfast.

Although there has long been bipartite support for the peace building in Northern Ireland in Washington, it was the Democrats who were most closely associated with what the process remains on the agenda of Capitol Hill.

But, as the former American special envoy of Northern Ireland tells us, Richard Haass, which the generation of politicians has “evolved”.

Senator Ted Kennedy died in 2009 while other figures, such as Senator Chris Dodd, have moved away from politics.

Instead, a large part of Irish America seems to have come closer to the republican party and Trump’s policies.

This detour of the Democrats was noted by the publisher of the American Irish newspaper, the Irish Echo.

“Despite the threat to unauthorized Irish immigrants, undocumented immigrants, I saw Irish America moving to the right,” said Máirtín ó wall.

“A majority has now moved to Trump because they see it in their personal interest to do so.

“We (the Irish echo) have approved Kamala Harris and we swim against the tide.

“Some of the foundations of Irish America, just outside Manhattan, I saw them not only move to the Republicans, but I move very firmly to the Republican candidates. I do not see a time when the Democrats bring these seats back.”

The American Irish group The Dropkick Murphys known by many for their emblematic song that I ship to Boston, which appeared strongly in the film by Martin Scorse the Departed, is still deeply rooted in union policy.

The main singer, Ken Casey, said that his usual and on stage comment against the American president had led the group to lose listeners, “loads”, whose point of view of Trump on the world.

“I have a lot of friends who came from Ireland in their twenties in Boston, in the first generation, and they are already on the Trump train – saying” close the door behind us “, said Mr. Casey.

“I was taught as Irlando-American, I could never have these thoughts towards another immigrant because my family was able to come here and climb the economic scale.

“Many of my friends went to the” dark side “and a ton of fans of the group.”

Trump obtained strong support from the Irish American law community.

The treasurer of the Emerald Society of the New York Correctional Department, Brian Sharkey, believes that the Democrats have abandoned the question of the law and the order to the Republicans.

“They (the American Irish) hope that Trump will be able to change things. He is a great supporter of the law and the order, and he is not a can,” said Sharkey, former correctional officer of the New York Rikers Island.

“Right now, there is a big problem in the city (New York) and there is a big problem with crime in general in New York State.”

He described Joe Biden as “the worst president of my life” and has little time for the strong feeling of irritization of Mr. Biden.

“He is a typical politician, capable of putting the Irish overall, of talking about his Irish grandmother,” he said.

Trump has also obtained support from some people with union history and for whom the United States is now at home.

Originally from the north of Belfast, Michael George became a friend with the Trump family thanks to his banking career in Manhattan.

He sees a little merit in the president’s rates as political tools.

“He wants to try to encourage free and equitable prices,” said George.

“He says he is going to make reciprocal prices. Well, if Europeans priced us, why should we not have the prices?”

Mr. George thinks that the widespread use of foreign import prices is a tactical decision that will end with negotiation.

Trump’s “America First” vision seems to benefit from the support of various parts of the American company for the moment. That this remains the case, only time will tell us.

Trump, prices and us, Sunday March 30 at 10:30 p.m. BST on BBC Iplayer and BBC One Northern Ireland. It was produced for the BBC Northern Ireland by Clean Slate TV.