U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin to the White House on Wednesday for the annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, using the occasion to accuse Ireland of benefiting unfairly from U.S. trade policies.
During their Oval Office meeting, Trump claimed Ireland, like other European Union nations, had taken advantage of the United States, specifically pointing to U.S. pharmaceutical companies shifting operations to Ireland due to favorable tax policies.
"Of course they are," Trump said when asked if Ireland was among the countries exploiting the U.S. economy. "I have great respect for Ireland and what they did, but the United States shouldn’t have let it happen. We had stupid leaders."
Martin defended Ireland’s role in trade, emphasizing that the economic relationship between the two nations was mutually beneficial. "It’s a two-way street," he said, adding that Irish airlines were among Boeing’s biggest customers and that over 700 Irish companies operate in the U.S., creating thousands of jobs.
Despite the economic debate, Trump and Martin exchanged lighter moments. The U.S. president was briefly distracted by Vice President JD Vance’s shamrock-patterned socks, joking, "I’m trying to stay focused, but I’m very impressed with the VP’s socks."
Trump also made a quip about comedian Rosie O’Donnell’s recent move to Ireland, stating Martin was "better off not knowing" about her, referencing his long-running feud with the talk-show host.
As the meeting concluded, Trump was asked to name his favorite person from Ireland. He responded with mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, praising his tattoos. He also acknowledged Martin’s father, a former boxer, humorously suggesting that Martin himself looked "too smooth" to be a fighter. "I’m a pretty good defensive boxer," Martin replied with a grin.
While the discussion highlighted economic tensions, Martin emphasized the long-standing relationship between the U.S. and Ireland, suggesting both nations could work toward an enduring partnership.
The visit concluded with Martin presenting Trump with the traditional bowl of shamrocks, a longstanding St. Patrick’s Day tradition at the White House.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to troops in the western Kursk region on Wednesday, donning military fatigues and ordering forces to press forward with their advance to fully reclaim the area from Ukrainian control.
Ukraine’s acceptance of a U.S. ceasefire proposal has salvaged its strained ties with Washington, securing the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing. However, fundamental issues in the conflict with Russia remain unresolved.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that 57% of Americans believe President Donald Trump’s approach to reshaping the U.S. economy is overly erratic.
NASA and SpaceX have delayed the launch of a replacement crew meant to return stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth from the International Space Station.
The U.S. budget deficit reached $307 billion during President Donald Trump’s first full month in office, marking a 4% increase—an additional $11 billion—over the same period last year, according to the Treasury Department.
The European Commission’s plan to impose additional duties on up to 26 billion euros ($28 billion) of U.S. imports could significantly disrupt Europe’s livestock sector, which heavily relies on imported grains for animal feed, according to industry association FEFAC.
The Bank of Canada trimmed its key policy rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday, lowering it to 2.75%, as concerns mount over inflationary pressures and weaker economic growth driven by renewed trade uncertainties and tariff threats.
Italy’s League party urges the government to favour Starlink over French-led Eutelsat for satellite communication systems, citing Starlink's technological edge. The push comes amid delays in the EU’s IRIS² program, as Italy seeks secure communication solutions for officials.
XPeng Motors plans to mass-produce flying cars by 2026, becoming the first company globally to do so. CEO He Xiaopeng also highlighted advancements in autonomous driving and humanoid robotics as part of the company’s future tech initiatives.
World leaders welcomed the 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to, calling it a step toward ending the conflict with Russia.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is set to condemn Trump’s Gaza “Riviera” plan, backing Egypt’s $53 billion reconstruction proposal. A classified draft resolution, rejects the relocation of Gazans, calls for urgent international support, and mobilises opposition to the U.S. stance.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that 57% of Americans believe President Donald Trump’s approach to reshaping the U.S. economy is overly erratic.
NASA and SpaceX have delayed the launch of a replacement crew meant to return stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth from the International Space Station.
The U.S. budget deficit reached $307 billion during President Donald Trump’s first full month in office, marking a 4% increase—an additional $11 billion—over the same period last year, according to the Treasury Department.
The European Commission’s plan to impose additional duties on up to 26 billion euros ($28 billion) of U.S. imports could significantly disrupt Europe’s livestock sector, which heavily relies on imported grains for animal feed, according to industry association FEFAC.
A global seafarers' union has called for a transparent and internationally coordinated investigation into a collision between a fuel tanker and a container ship off the English coast that left one person presumed dead.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that 57% of Americans believe President Donald Trump’s approach to reshaping the U.S. economy is overly erratic.
NASA and SpaceX have delayed the launch of a replacement crew meant to return stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth from the International Space Station.
The U.S. budget deficit reached $307 billion during President Donald Trump’s first full month in office, marking a 4% increase—an additional $11 billion—over the same period last year, according to the Treasury Department.
The European Commission’s plan to impose additional duties on up to 26 billion euros ($28 billion) of U.S. imports could significantly disrupt Europe’s livestock sector, which heavily relies on imported grains for animal feed, according to industry association FEFAC.
The Bank of Canada trimmed its key policy rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday, lowering it to 2.75%, as concerns mount over inflationary pressures and weaker economic growth driven by renewed trade uncertainties and tariff threats.
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