March 17 (UPI) — President Donald Trump hosted Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the White House on Tuesday during their annual St. Patrick’s Day visit.
Taoiseach Martin thanked the president for “affirming the tremendous bonds” between the two countries at the Oval Office.
Trump said there is a “tremendous trade relationship” between Ireland and the United States.
“We have a tremendous trade relationship with Ireland, and we’ll keep it that way. I think it’s going to be expanded very quickly,” Trump said. “Probably they want to talk a little bit about tariffs, but I won’t mention that – you might want to be discussing that a little bit.”
Vice President JD Vance also hosted a breakfast in honor of Martin at the vice president’s residence in the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.
A reporter asked Trump what his message was to Irish people who are paying high energy prices because of the war with Iran.
“I have a lot of friends from Ireland, they’re very happy that I’m getting rid of … a nuclear power, a nuclear terrorist,” Trump said. “And as soon as that war is over, which will be soon, your prices are going to drop like a rock. You watch.”
Martin said the connection between the two countries is important.
“The Irish have helped to build America,” he said. “We’re very proud of that connection, and we think you hosting us here in the White House is affirmation to all the Irish-Americans out there and to our diaspora in this country for what they’ve contributed to America.”
He also said he wants to develop a legal path for migration between the two countries.
Some Irish politicians have boycotted the trip.
Sinn Féin President Mary-Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill are boycotting the St Patrick’s Day events in the United States because of the Trump administration’s policies in Gaza, the BBC reported.
