Jerry Buttimer says Taoiseach should challenge Trump on US foreign policy

Cork South Central TD and junior minister said 'president Trump needs to hear from us that the [Iran] war and the war in Ukraine have to end'

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and junior minister Jerry Buttimer at Campas Íosagáin in Baile Mhúirne earlier this year. Mr Buttimer called on his constituency colleague to inform Donald Trump of what the Irish people think of his actions. Picture: Jim Coughlan

A government minister has criticised Donald Trump over the ongoing war in Iran, saying the US president must understand the “profound impact” of the conflict on people across the world.

Junior minister Jerry Buttimer has urged Taoiseach Micheál Martin to use his meeting with Mr Trump this weekend to inform him of how his actions impact the Irish public.

Mr Buttimer said of the war in Iran: “I think it’s important that president Trump understands, not just from our leaders, but from the Irish people, that it’s having a profound impact.

“President Trump needs to hear from us at the weekend that the [Iran] war and the war in Ukraine have to end.”

Pressed if the Taoiseach should put this to Mr Trump during his visit to Ireland this weekend, Mr Buttimer said he did so in Washington DC in March and he was “confident” Mr Martin would do so again.

“President Trump can’t be immune from the knowledge that the war he wages in Iran is having a profound impact on ordinary people and it has to end,” the Cork South Central TD said.

“I say that as a person who’s very pro-America, who’s a centrist politician.”

The comments from the Cork TD come just ahead of Mr Trump’s two-day visit to Ireland, where the US president is set to arrive early on Saturday for engagements with the Government.

It is expected he will be greeted at Dublin Airport upon his arrival, before he is taken to Phoenix Park for a courtesy call at Áras an Uachtárain with President Catherine Connolly.

Jon Rahm of Spain during day one of the Amgen Irish Open Golf Championship 2026 at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, Clare. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

It is expected any meeting between the two will be relatively brief, before Mr Trump then moves on to Farmleigh House for a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Following his meeting with Mr Martin, Mr Trump will be welcomed to the US Ambassador’s residence within the Phoenix Park where he will deliver an address.

Invitations to the event have been issued by the US Embassy, with Government party TDs invited to attend.

However, opposition politicians in Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats and Aontú have said they did not receive invites.

It comes as protests at Mr Trump’s visit are set to be staged by political parties and organisations over the weekend, with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre organising one.

Chief executive of the centre, Rachel Morrogh, said the action is being taken because of Mr Trump’s “record on sexual violence, personally, publicly and politically”.

Ms Morrogh told the Irish Examiner that Mr Trump “stands for everything that we are against” and said that there has been a normalisation and tolerance of sexual violence in the world in recent times that has been influenced by the actions and views of Mr Trump and social media influences such as the Tate brothers.