Donald Trump attended Sinn Féin fundraiser months before IRA attacked London
During his speech, Gerry Adams joked about Sinn Féin playing the 'Trump card'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has been caught in another controversy after footage emerged of him attending a Sinn Féin fundraising dinner in New York in November 1995.
The Republican frontrunner can be seen shaking hands with Gerry Adams in the Essex House hotel in Manhattan, months before the Provisional IRA broke its ceasefire by bombing London's Canary Wharf.
During his speech, Gerry Adams jokes about Sinn Féin playing the "Trump card" before shaking hands with the businessman, who can be seen grinning and waving to the audience.
Along with paying the $200 (£131) entry fee to hear Mr Adams speak about the Irish peace process, guests were asked to give donations to Friends of Sinn Féin, The Guardian reports.
Less than four months later, the Provisional IRA detonated a truck bomb in London's Docklands on 9 February 1996, killing two men working in a nearby newsagents and causing £100m in damages.
Sinn Féin and the IRA were the political and military wings of the Irish republican movement for decades.
To enter the event, Mr Trump would have had to walk past protests from the relatives of Catholics who had been shot, beaten and exiled by the IRA after the organisation declared its first ceasefire on 31 August, 1994.
The Presidential hopeful has recently been mired by controversy, standing by his call for a complete ban on Muslim immigration to the US, saying: "We have to do the right thing."
A petition to refuse Mr Trump entry to the UK passed 200,000 signatures in less than 24 hours, meaning the issue will be considered for debate in parliament.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments