Ireland must keep “as close as we can” to the Trump Administration - despite differences over Ukraine, Bertie Ahern has said.
Since Trump took office last month, Ireland has increasingly found itself on the opposite side of Washington on many key issues in global affairs.
The Government described Trump’s call for Palestinians to be displaced from Gaza as “provocative” and “unhelpful”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has also pledged that Ireland would remain “steadfast in our support for Ukraine and its people”.
By contrast, Trump has falsely labelled Zelensky a “dictator” and told Kyiv it must cede land to Russia.
Opposition parties have urged Mr Martin to boycott the White House this St Patrick’s Day - a suggestion the Government has said would not “help anybody”.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2025
On Newstalk Breakfast, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said Ireland ties to America are still vital.
“I think we have to try and keep as close as we can to the United States, to United States Administrations,” he said.
“We’ve always done that - as difficult as it is.
“We were always allowed to say our piece.
“Of course, we have to watch our commercial interests, our business interests, employment and investment - all of that.”
President George W. Bush and Bertie Ahern. Picture by: Alamy.com.Mr Ahern recalled that during his time, relations between Europe and Washington were severely strained by US foreign policy.
“I remember when the tricky one I had was the time of the invasion of Iraq,” he said.
“We had a different position; 100,000 people marched here the week that I went over there.
“I said our piece and I remember Bush didn’t like it but I was allowed to say it.
“Then we were walking down the corridor and he said, ‘By the way, the war will be starting next week.’
“You weren’t going to change his mind on it.”
Mr Ahern said he had “no doubt” the Taoiseach would also speak up for Irish interests and foreign policy while at the White House this year.
Main image: Split of Donald Trump and Bertie Ahern. Pictures by: Alamy.com
