June 19, 2025: Edward Walsh is sworn in as the new US Ambassador to Ireland in the Oval Office of the White House.White House

Edward Walsh, the new US Ambassador to Ireland, was officially sworn in on Thursday, June 19, in a ceremony in the White House's Oval Office.

Both US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio were present for Walsh's swearing-in, according to official photos shared by the White House.

Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor, shared a clip that showed Walsh took the oath on a Bible held by his wife, Lynn Walsh.

After taking the oath, Walsh shook hands with Rubio and Trump.

In addition to sharing photos on the White House website, the official White House account on X posted photos from the ceremony:

The US Embassy in Dublin congratulated Walsh in a post on social media.

Meanwhile, Ireland's Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason wished Walsh well.

In Ireland, TD Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, said he was looking forward to welcoming Walsh to Ireland.

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US President Donald Trump announced Walsh as his choice to be the next US Ambassador to Ireland in December.

"Edward is the President of the Walsh Company, a very successful nationwide construction and real estate firm," Trump said in his December 14 announcement on Truth Social.

"He is a great philanthropist in his local community, and previously served as the Chairman of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority Board.

"He is also a Champion Golfer, a very good asset for the Ambassador of Ireland to have.

"Do well Ed!"

Walsh is a resident of Bedminster, New Jersey, where the US President's Trump National Golf Club, of which Walsh is a member, is located.

According to the Washington Post, Walsh donated $25,000 to Trump's 2024 election campaign, while his wife Lynn Walsh also donated $25,000.

June 19, 2025: Ambassador-Designate Edward Walsh and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House after Walsh was sworn in. (White House)

"A very close friend to President Trump"

Introducing Walsh during his confirmation hearing on May 1, Senator Lindsey Graham made note of Walsh's friendship with Trump. (All ambassadorial nominations must be confirmed by the US Senate.)

"He's a very close friend to President Trump, so to our friends in Ireland, you're getting one of the closest friends that President Trump has, and that will benefit you because when Ed picks up the phone, President Trump will answer."

He went on to reiterate: "To the people of Ireland, again, you'll be getting one of the closest friends that President Trump has and in this business, that matters."

Later in the confirmation hearing, Walsh was pressed several times on how he would manage Ireland's stance on Israel.

"I look forward to working constructively to engage on the issues that are contributing to the tensions between Israel and Ireland," Walsh said in response at one point.

Meanwhile, in the testimony he submitted ahead of his confirmation hearing, Walsh said that one of his "foremost priorities will be to enhance the economic partnership between the United States and Ireland."

He also said that he would be "committed to expanding the cultural and educational exchanges" between the US and Ireland.

After noting the recent anniversaries of Ireland-US diplomatic relations as well as the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Walsh said: "And still, there is much work to be done."

He added: "I am also fortunate that I can exercise diplomacy from the green lawns of Ireland’s golf courses."

You can watch Edward Walsh's confirmation hearing on May 1 here:

On June 4, Walsh's nomination was approved by the Senate with a vote of 57 to 38.

It is unclear when Walsh will arrive in Ireland, though Tánaiste Simon Harris did say this week that he intends to speak with Ambassador Walsh about the new US policy of requiring visa applicants to make their social media profiles public for vetting when he arrives "next month."