Opinion
18 Mar 26

Taoiseach's White House visit slammed as "missed opportunity to stand up for international law and peace" by opposition parties

Credit: The White House

"He did not represent the views of the Irish people, who are appalled at Trump’s lawless and belligerent Presidency," Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns stated.

Opposition parties have criticised Taoiseach Micheál Martin's St Patrick's Day meeting with Donald Trump at the White House – with Social Democrats' Holly Cairns slamming it as "a missed opportunity" by the Taoiseach "to stand up for international law and peace.

At the White House Shamrock Ceremony, the Taoiseach noted that "international rules and order" are "essential to our peace and security and to that of the world."

"Our own recent history has convinced us that dialogue, negotiation and de-escalation are the way to make progress," he remarked. "And we especially want to see progress and peace in the Middle East, as I know you do. We also need a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. Too many people are dying as a result of conflict in the world – we owe it to them all to create a better future."

However, in a statement shared online last night, Cairns claimed that the "Taoiseach remained almost entirely mute as Trump went on a tirade, spreading misinformation to defend his illegal war in Iran."

"When he finally did interject, he gave the impression that Ireland had no issue with Trump’s unprovoked attack on Iran – a flagrant breach of international law," she continued. “Incredibly, at one point, the Taoiseach said Trump was 'doing [his] bit' for peace in the Middle East – mere weeks after Trump launched an illegal war which has destabilised the entire region and unleashed chaos."

Cairns also noted that, "when it came to a more pointed defence of our EU allies and a clear criticism of Trump’s warmongering, the Taoiseach was meek and mute."

"He did not represent the views of the Irish people, who are appalled at Trump’s lawless and belligerent Presidency," she added.

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Sinn Féin's spokesperson on foreign affairs, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, shared a similar sentiment – stating that “Micheál Martin had a unique opportunity today to speak up on the world stage."

“Instead, he stayed silent on the need to respect international law, failed to mention the ongoing genocide in Gaza or the United States’ and Israel’s attacks on Iranian civilians," he added.

“It was shameful to hear Micheál Martin telling Donald Trump he was doing his bit for peace in Gaza given the manner in which the ceasefire is continually being broken and how the so-called board of peace is undermining international law.

“We cannot have the head of the Irish government ignoring the death and destruction in Gaza or the attacks on Iranian civilians. Irish people expect better than the Taoiseach turning the other way.”

People Before Profit were also outspoken about the meeting, and criticised Martin for referring to Winston Churchill as a "great wartime leader" – though the Taoiseach did add that "in Ireland it was kind of a different perspective in terms of our own War of Independence and so on... He created his own bit of difficulties for us."

"The man who oversaw the policing of Ireland during the War of Independence, who helped unleash the Black and Tans on Ireland, shot innocent people in Croke Park and burnt Cork to the ground," People Before Profit remarked on social media. "Not unsurprising to laugh this off as 'difficulties' when it’s coming from the same man who said Trump was 'doing his bit' to deliver peace in Gaza, when any sane person can see he’s doing nothing more than enlisting war criminals to develop casinos on top of the mass graves he helped create there.

"Neither is it surprising from the man who couldn’t even say that Trump bombing a school and killing 160 young girls was illegal," PBP continued. "This entire spectacle has been nothing more than an excuse to whitewash American crimes and really the question is what price we’re all willing to pay to see our history abused so thoroughly, to act so spineless on the world stage, and for our leaders to stand for nothing when it matters."