President Trump has said he does not want to "do anything to hurt Ireland".
Hosting Micheál Martin for the annual St Patrick’s Day celebration, the US President answered questions on a wide range of issues.
On the issue of business, Mr Trump has said he is "not upset" that so many American companies have moved to Ireland.
"I got the Irish vote," he said.
"I think I've got it locked up pretty good - unless I did something very stupid.
"Like [draining] your companies, your wonderful place of all your companies.
"If I drained Ireland of all the companies, maybe I'd lose the Irish vote, I don't know."
President Donald J. Trump Welcomes Taoiseach Micheál Martin to The White House 🇺🇸🇮🇪 @MichealMartinTD pic.twitter.com/HCEv79M4R4
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 12, 2025
The President added that he "loves it" in Ireland.
"I've been there many times, as you know," he told the Taoiseach.
"We don't want to do anything to hurt Ireland - but we do want fairness."
He did add that Apple had been treated "very badly" by the European Union, after it was ordered pay €13 billion in taxes to the Irish Government.
"We have a problem with the European Union," he said.
When asked for his opinion of Ireland’s housing shortage, Mr Trump attributed it the Republic’s strong economic performance
“Do you know why they have a housing crisis?” he said.
“Because they’re doing so well. Everyone should have that problem.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin arrives at White House for meeting with US President Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/NlnmQgAOYX
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) March 12, 2025
When asked by an American journalist what he would do to 'Make Ireland Great Again', Mr Martin said the country needs more housing and the State needs to "build them faster".
“That’s my number one priority,” he said.
World affairs
Mr Trump also said that the war in Ukraine “would never have happened “ if he’d been President in 2022.
He added that Israel was “under siege” and that they “had to fight back” against Hamas following their attack on October 7th.
Main image: Donald Trump and Micheál Martin. Picture by: Newstalk.
