The Prime Minister of Ireland, Michael Martin, is the latest European leader to visit U.S. President Donald Trump during his second term in the White House.
However, the occasion was notably light-hearted, with receptions and events held in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day, a popular Irish holiday celebrated annually on March 17.
Nonetheless, Wednesday’s visit was shadowed by some of the same pressing issues that have accompanied other European leaders to the White House, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
Trump dominated much of the attention during an Oval Office meeting. As the U.S. president fielded questions from the media, Martin remained relatively quiet.
When he did speak, Martin expressed warm praise for the Irish-American alliance and the historic ties between the two nations.
He also commended Trump’s self-proclaimed role as a peacemaker, echoing sentiments shared by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during their White House visits in late February.
“Mr. President, we are forever grateful for the United States’ contribution to transforming our island,” Martin said at a luncheon for the Friends of Ireland, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers. “We wish you well in the efforts you are making to bring peace to Ukraine, the Middle East, and beyond.”
Here are five key takeaways from their meeting at the White House.
A relatively warm visit, despite boycotts
The atmosphere was notably warmer than some of Trump’s other recent visits. Since taking office, Trump has hosted a series of world leaders, including Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with whom he had a heated exchange.
Both leaders sought assurances about U.S. cooperation in regional conflicts: the war in Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza.
However, with Martin—known by the title “taoiseach,” Irish for “chief”—the stakes were somewhat lower.
During their Oval Office meeting, Martin’s conversation with Trump touched on the U.S. president’s luxury Doonbeg golf resort on Ireland’s west coast.
“President, you have the distinction of being, I think, the only president who has physically invested in Ireland through your Doonbeg,” Martin said, as Trump tried to interject.
“I love this guy,” Trump replied, pointing a thumb at Martin.
Trump returned the favor with flattery, invoking Martin’s family history as the son of a famous boxer and leaning into Irish stereotypes about fighting.
“I know so many Irish fighters. They like to fight, and they’re damn good at it,” Trump said at the luncheon. “His father was a great fighter, actually. So, genetically, I’m not going to mess around with you. You understand? I’m a believer in that.”
Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, even wore shamrock socks and a green tie to mark the occasion.
However, at one point, a journalist confronted Trump about notable absences from this year’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Irish parties like Sinn Féin had announced last month that they would boycott the events in Washington, D.C., over Trump’s stance on Gaza.
“What are they boycotting?” Trump asked.
When the journalist explained, Trump shrugged it off. “I haven’t heard that.”
Trump uses ‘Palestinian’ as a slur, dismisses ethnic cleansing concerns
Trump has previously suggested that the U.S. should “own” the war-torn Gaza Strip and permanently displace its Palestinian residents, a move critics likened to ethnic cleansing.
However, in recent weeks, the U.S. president has stepped back from that proposal. In a February 21 interview, for instance, he told Fox News, “I’m not forcing it. I’m just going to sit back and recommend it.”
Nevertheless, his comments have continued to resonate globally, particularly as he pushes for the annexation of countries like Canada.
At one point, a reporter asked Martin whether he planned to discuss Trump’s previous plans to expel Palestinians from Gaza.
Trump intervened, denying the allegation. “Nobody’s expelling any Palestinians,” he replied.
Trump later used the term “Palestinian” as an insult when discussing his recent speech to a joint session of Congress. He aimed the remark at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Jewish senator who has led Democratic resistance to a Trump-approved budget.
“The Democrats have to get their act together, and if they don’t vote, taxes are going to go through the roof,” Trump said, seemingly referencing recent budget negotiations. “Schumer is a Palestinian, as far as I’m concerned. He used to be Jewish. He’s not Jewish anymore: He’s a Palestinian.”
Despite this, Martin praised Trump for his approach to the peace process, drawing parallels to the peace process in Northern Ireland.
“I recall back in the early ’90s, when the first tentative steps to peace in Ireland were taken, people criticized figures like John Hume and Albert Reynolds, who were then taoiseach. But they kept going,” Martin said. “Anything we can do to stop the violence is an extremely positive thing.”
However, Martin reiterated Ireland’s commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, though he acknowledged the challenges.
“It’s been our view that a two-state solution would be ideal. It’s become much more challenging as time has gone on, but that has always been our position,” he said.
Trump says he was the ‘toughest ever’ on Russia
Much of the meeting focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine, where Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Just a day earlier, U.S. and Ukrainian officials had agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposal during negotiations in Saudi Arabia. Russia, however, has yet to accept the deal.
Trump acknowledged that U.S. envoys were en route to Moscow to encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree. Putin, however, has pledged not to commit to a temporary ceasefire, fearing Ukraine could re-arm.
Trump also referenced his previous meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, during which he berated him for not being “thankful” enough and showing “disrespect.”
“I’ve always said that Ukraine might have been the more difficult party. You saw what happened last week,” Trump said. “Now he’s agreed to peace.”
Trump also emphasized his toughness on Putin, whom he has publicly admired in the past.
“What I did to Russia was very tough. I was the toughest ever,” Trump said, comparing himself to predecessors Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush. He hinted at possible economic actions against Russia but stopped short of detailing them.
Trump threatens further tariffs on the EU
While peace negotiations dominated much of the meeting, Trump also spoke at length about tariffs, one of his favorite economic tools.
On Wednesday, the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, prompting retaliatory measures from Canada and the European Union (EU).
Trump warned that the trade war could escalate further. “Of course, I’m going to respond,” he said. “The EU was set up to take advantage of the United States.”
He did not exempt Ireland from this criticism, accusing the country of poaching the U.S. pharmaceutical industry.
“Ireland has our pharmaceutical companies. This beautiful island of 5 million people has the entire U.S. pharmaceutical industry in its grasp,” Trump said.
Several major U.S. pharmaceutical companies, including Merck and Pfizer, have factories in Ireland, drawn by lower taxes. Experts warn that tariffs on Irish pharmaceutical products could drive up the costs of producing medical supplies in the U.S.
Trump frames Ireland’s housing crisis as a ‘good problem’
Trump also dipped into Irish politics, offering his take on Ireland’s housing crisis.
Experts attribute the crisis to population growth outpacing housing supply, driving up costs. Homelessness is on the rise, and nearly two-thirds of young Irish adults live with their parents.
When asked for advice, Trump framed the crisis as a sign of success. “You know why they have a housing crisis? Because they’re doing so well. They can’t produce houses fast enough. That’s a good problem, not a bad problem,” he said.
Martin appeared pleased with the response: “That’s a pretty good answer.”
As the room erupted with questions, Trump doubled down: “Everybody should have that problem.”
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