Whiskey, butter, and billions at stake: Why Ireland should worry about Trump’s tariff move

With billions on the line and key exports at risk, Ireland must now navigate Trump’s unpredictable trade war

President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday. Picture: AP/Evan Vuccii

As US president Donald Trump took to the podium in the Rose Garden on Wednesday night, Irish news editors breathed a sigh of relief.

While Mr Trump has been open in his hostility towards the media, his cognisance of Irish print deadlines was no doubt appreciated, even if the content of what he said was not. Indeed, while Mr Trump's knack for showmanship makes him something of a media dream, scratching beneath the often bizarre surface reveals troubling truths.