Trump's Trade Talk: Ireland in the Spotlight

Ireland's Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, had a busy day in Washington. He met with US President Donald Trump. The main topic? Trade. Trump pointed out a big trade imbalance between the US and Ireland. He said the US has a massive trade deficit with Ireland. This means the US buys more from Ireland than it sells to Ireland. Trump wants to fix this imbalance. He thinks the European Union treats the US unfairly. The EU just announced it will put tariffs on $28 billion worth of US goods. This is in response to Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum. Ireland's trade surplus with the US was over $50 billion in 2024. Ireland exports a lot to the US, especially in pharmaceuticals. Trump thinks Ireland has an advantage over the US in this area. He said Ireland has the entire US pharmaceutical industry in its grasp. He praised Ireland's smart taxation policies. But he also said the US should have done more to keep these companies. Trump said he doesn't want to hurt Ireland, but he wants fairness. Martin agreed that there's room for discussion. He said Ireland has served US companies well. The meeting wasn't all about trade. Trump also talked about Ireland's housing crisis. He said it's because Ireland is doing so well. This comment didn't go down well with some. Sinn Féin, a political party in Ireland, criticized Trump's remark. They said joking about the housing crisis is never a good answer. Trump also praised Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Conor McGregor. He called McIlroy talented and McGregor's tattoos the best he's ever seen. Trump also met with Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly. She said she had a good conversation with Trump. But she also said Sinn Féin's First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, should have been there. Little-Pengelly said it's important to show up and speak up. The meeting ended with both leaders heading to Capitol Hill. They attended the Friends of Ireland luncheon. Trump said the Irish spirit is alive and thriving in America. Martin said the US has been a friend of Ireland for centuries. He also said Ireland is ready to support peace efforts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The US Vice-President, JD Vance, also spoke. He said the US-Ireland relationship is one of the great alliances between nations. He also said Ireland has a lot of technological growth. He thinks the US and Ireland should work together on technology, especially artificial intelligence.