Taoiseach Micheál Martin met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House today, with discussions surrounding trade relations, taxation policies, and international conflicts.
During the meeting, President Trump assured the Taoiseach, "I don’t want to hurt Ireland, but he knows and understands we want fairness," relating to the trade tensions between the U.S. and the European Union. Despite this, he stressed the strong economic bond between the two nations, saying, "We have tremendous business relationships with Ireland, and that will only get stronger."
One of the key issues raised was Ireland’s corporate tax policy, which has attracted a significant number of American pharmaceutical and tech companies. President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, saying, "They've taken our pharma away from us. I'm not angry at you, the Irish people are smart."
The discussion also covered global issues, including the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Before the meeting, the Taoiseach had called for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and advocated for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Trade remained a major point of focus, particularly in light of new U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, which have sparked concerns of a wider trade war with the European Union. While Ireland has not been directly affected by these tariffs, Martin highlighted the potential risks to Ireland’s economy and its close ties to both American and European markets.
The traditional exchange of the bowl of shamrock is set to take place later in the evening after a formal dinner at the Capitol Building.
