Breaking: Key takeaways from Irish leader Micheal Martin’s visit with Donald Trump….See More

Trump once again used ‘Palestinian’ as an insult against his rivals, while describing Ireland’s housing crisis as ‘good’.

The prime minister of Ireland, Micheal 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.

“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.

A relatively warm visit, despite boycotts
The atmosphere was decidedly cosier than some of Trump’s other recent visits. Since taking office, Trump has welcomed a stream of world leaders, including King Abdullah II of Jordan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with whom he had a shouting match.

Both leaders came in the context of seeking assurances about US cooperation in regional conflicts: the war in Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza.

But with Martin – known by the title taoiseach, Irish for “chief” – the stakes were somewhat lower.

During their Oval Office sit-down, Martin’s conversation with Trump meandered to the US president’s luxury Doonbeg golf resort, situated on Ireland’s west coast.

I’d just say, president, you have the distinction of being, I think, the only president that has physically invested in Ireland through your Doonbeg,” Martin said, as Trump tried to interject.

“I love this guy,” Trump replied, pointing a thumb at Martin.

Trump responded with his own form of flattery, invoking Martin’s family history as the son of a famous boxer – and toeing Irish stereotypes about fighting.

“I know so many Irish fighters. They like to fight, and they are damn good at it too,” Trump said at the luncheon, before turning to Martin. “His father was a great fighter, actually. So that means, genetically, I’m not going to mess around with you. You understand? I’m a believer in that.”

Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, even wore shamrock socks and a green tie to mark the occasion.

But at one point during the visit, a journalist did confront Trump about some notable absences from this year’s St Patrick’s Day festivities.

Irish parties like Sinn Fein had announced last month that they would boycott the events in Washington, DC, over Trump’s stance on Gaza.

“ What are they boycotting?” Trump asked.

When the journalist explained, Trump shrugged it off. “ I haven’t heard that.