The prime minister of Ireland, Michael Martin, is the latest European leader to visit United States President Donald Trump during his second term in the White House.But the occasion was a markedly light-hearted one: to hold receptions and events in advance of St Patrick’s Day, a popular Irish holiday held each year on March 17.
Still, Wednesday’s visit was clouded by many of the same looming issues that accompanied other European leaders to the White House, among them Russia’s war in Ukraine and the fate of the delicate ceasefire in Gaza.
Trump took up much of the spotlight, holding court in an Oval Office sit-down. As the US president took questions from the news media, Martin appeared relatively silent.
When he did speak, Martin offered warm praise for the Irish-American alliance and the historic ties between the two countries.
He also touted Trump’s self-professed role as a peacemaker, as did French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer when they visited the White House in late February. Advertisement
“Mr President, we are forever grateful for the United States’ contribution to transforming our island,” Martin said at a luncheon for the Friends of Ireland, a group of bipartisan US lawmakers. “We wish you well in the efforts that you are making to bring peace to the Ukraine and to the Middle East and further afield.”
Here are five takeaways from their meeting today at the White House.
President Donald Trump attends the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon [Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters]
A relatively warm …
