Five things we learned from the Taoiseach's Oval Office meeting
One person whom the Taoiseach did step in to defend was UK prime minister Keir Starmer, with whom president Trump has become increasingly frustrated in recent weeks. Picture: Niall Carson/PA
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and US President Donald Trump came face to face in the White House for the second year in a row today for the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
While it was a less nervy affair than last year, with discussions on tariffs featuring far less and the bombardment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy now a distant memory, this year’s meeting posed a new set of challenges.
With war continuing to rage in Iran, president Trump threatening to take over Cuba, and his ongoing dissatisfaction with European leaders, the Oval Office meeting was dominated by international affairs.
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But what did we learn from the Taoiseach and the US President’s bilateral?
On International Women’s Day, President Catherine Connolly issued a statement condemning the ongoing war in Iran.
She said the scenes witnessed in the Middle East were “deliberate assaults on international law”.
When this was put to Mr Trump, he did not appear to know who the Irish President was.
“Who said that? Look, he's lucky I exist. That's all I can say,” he responded.
Mr Martin did not interject to correct Mr Trump on President Connolly’s gender, something later criticised by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns.
One person whom the Taoiseach did step in to defend was UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with whom president Trump has become increasingly frustrated in recent weeks.
Mr Starmer has said the UK will not be drawn into the war amid US demands for the British military to keep shipping lanes open.
Once again, Mr Trump said Mr Starmer was “no Winston Churchill”.
In response, Mr Martin pointed out Churchill was a “great wartime hero” but “created difficulties” for Ireland.
“Keir Starmer has done a lot to reset the Irish-British relationship,” Mr Martin told Mr Trump.
“I do believe that he's a very earnest, sound person, who I think you have a capacity to get on with.
“You've got on with him before, and you've got on with other European leaders as well. I think you have that capacity again.”
As the war in Iran continues, Irish fuel prices are continuing to skyrocket, with prices at the pumps now nearing or exceeding the €2 per litre mark.
One Irish journalist asked Mr Trump what he had to say to the people of Ireland who are paying high prices because of “your war on Iran”.
He replied: “I have a lot of friends from Ireland. They're very happy that I'm getting rid of a nuclear power, a nuclear terrorist.
“As soon as that war is over, which will be soon, your prices are going to drop like a rock.”
At the start of the Oval Office bi-lateral, Mr Trump asked Mr Martin at length about the visits of former American presidents to Irish shores.
His beloved Doonbeg golf club in Clare is set to hold the Irish Open in September, but Mr Trump was non-committal about whether he will pay a visit to our shores.
He said: “My son and my family, we have a great, great golf complex in Ireland, one of the best in the world, called Doonbeg.
“You have a tremendous golf tradition, and it was chosen for the Irish Open, which is a big deal. That's a big event.
“Everybody wants me to be there. You just said [Taoiseach], ‘I hope you get to go’.
“We are going to try.”
Speaking of Doonbeg, president Trump was asked about the plans to build a new ballroom at the resort being halted by a lone objector who raised concerns about the future of rare snails on the site.
“I haven’t heard that,” Mr Trump said.
“The course was built, and it's been operated very successfully. Somebody's objecting? You mean an environmental group is objecting to small snails at Doonbeg?
“Doesn't sound like the biggest problem I've ever had.”
The Taoiseach also was not enthused by the question, asking the reporter who asked, “What kind of question is that?”
- Louise Burne is Political Correspondent
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