Vice President Mike Pence plans to celebrate his Irish heritage with a visit to Ireland in September, but his announcement was met with opposition on Twitter.
"Finally, on September 6-7 we will travel to Ireland, a country that is very near to my family's heart, where we look forward to meeting with President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and Tánaiste Simon Coveney while celebrating my Irish roots!" Pence tweeted on Thursday.
Pence, whose grandfather emigrated from Ireland in 1923, is said to be "not welcome" in the country by several Twitter users, due to the Trump Administration's policies on immigration and his own views on homosexuality.
"Recalling his recent visit observing men in cages. This man helps lead a vile regime. Silence is compliance," wrote Ruairí McKiernan, a former member of the Irish Council of State. "Celebrate & respect your Irish migrant roots by ending the cruelty & racism of your regime."
"Sadly for you, a large number of us here in Ireland are mortified that a right wing, homophobic supporter of keeping children in cages like you has Irish roots. You certainly won't be celebrated," another Twitter user wrote.
"Our heritage is standing with the poor, the oppressed, the migrants and those seeking refuge as we did before them," wrote Helen Shaw, founder and CEO of Athena Media and former managing director of RTÉ radio. "When you are 'family' you get to tell people home truths and Pence is no friend of those seeking solace and refuge. It's not just DNA."