Elaine Loughlin: What is the point of the Taoiseach's 48-hour US visit?

As wall-to-wall coverage of Hurricane Milton played on US news channels, the Taoiseach touched down in Washington to attend a reduced itinerary of events

When pressed five times on whether he would use the Oval Office opportunity to call on the US to stop arming Israel, the Taoiseach Simon Harris stated that it is up to every country to decide what they wish to do.

Not even a natural disaster could stop Simon Harris from getting his moment in the White House.

An invitation from the US President is significant, but questions must be asked as to what exactly Ireland has to gain from a 48-hour trip to the US for a scaled-back swansong of an outgoing president?