St Patrick's Day: Taoiseach's visit to White House in doubt

Democrats' opposition to funding bill could shut down US government — and it could scupper Micheál Martin's planned White House trip

Taoiseach Micheál Martin's planned St Patrick’s Day meeting with Donald Trump is in jeopardy due to the optics of the White House hosting such an event during a threatened US government shutdown. Picture: Dan Linehan

Fresh doubts have been cast over the Taoiseach’s St Patrick’s Day trip to the White House over fears it will clash with a threatened US government shutdown.

The US federal government is edging towards a full shutdown next month, unless the Democrats agree to approve a funding bill by March 14, the day Micheál Martin is expected to visit the White House.