Washington: During a White House meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin as part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Ireland of benefiting unfairly from U.S. policies, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector.
Trump, who had taken a tough stance on trade with both allies and rivals, including Canada and China, reiterated his belief that the European Union was created to undermine the United States.
When asked whether Ireland, as an EU member, was also taking advantage of the U.S., Trump responded, “Of course they are.” He blamed past American leadership for allowing U.S. pharmaceutical companies to relocate to Ireland due to favorable tax policies, calling those decisions misguided.
Martin defended Ireland’s economic contributions to the U.S., highlighting that Irish airlines are among Boeing’s largest customers outside America and that Irish businesses have established operations in the U.S., creating thousands of jobs. “It's a two-way street,” Martin argued, emphasizing the mutual benefits of the trade relationship.
Despite Trump’s criticisms, Martin expressed optimism about maintaining and strengthening ties between the two nations.
The meeting marked Trump’s first engagement with a foreign leader since his contentious discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which reportedly escalated into a heated exchange before Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House.
