US President Donald Trump listed Ireland among the nations he claims are exploiting the United States during his welcome for Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the White House.
Martin, who was in the US for the yearly St Patrick’s Day festivities, responded by highlighting Ireland's contributions to America.
Trump has been sparring with US allies and adversaries alike over trade, slapping tariffs on imports from countries from Canada to China and in between.
In his segment with Martin, Trump reiterated his assertion that the EU was created solely to oppose the United States.
When asked whether Ireland, an EU member, was also benefiting unfairly, Trump responded, "Of course they are. I hold Ireland in high regard for their actions, and they should have taken those steps, but the United States shouldn’t have allowed it."
His remarks were directed at the clustering of American drug firms in Ireland, owing to the nation's tax regulations.
"We had foolish leaders who lacked understanding or perhaps were not from a business background, yet they seemed unaware of what was actually going on. Then suddenly, Ireland became home to our pharmaceutical firms," Trump stated.
Martin responded by saying that the trade relationship is "a two-way street," noting further that Ireland’s biggest airlines purchase more airplanes from Boeing than any other entity apart from the United States itself.
He mentioned that numerous Irish firms operate out of America, providing employment for thousands of people. "This is an obscure detail often overlooked in official figures," he noted.
I completely get your perspective," Martin said to Trump, "However, I believe we can nurture this relationship and it will stand the test of time.
It marked Trump’s first time hosting a foreign leader in the Oval Office since his recent discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, an encounter that escalated into a shouting match as they jousted over ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The session ended with Zelnskyy being asked to leave the White House.
