Bertie Ahern has described Donald Trump as “respectful” and “polite” towards Ireland in today’s St Patrick’s Day meeting with the Taoiseach.
Earlier this month, the US President gave Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy a very public dressing down in the Oval Office.
However, today, Micheál Martin enjoyed a much warmer reception - with the President even insisting he was "not upset" that so many American companies have moved to Ireland.
‘Of course’ - Ireland is taking advantage of the United States, according to Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/3jNQFutX6j
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"I got the Irish vote," he told journalists.
"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."
On The Hard Shoulder, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said nothing had been said that would worry the Irish side.
“In terms of what he said about Ireland, I think it was fine,” he said.
“We know his position on the pharmacy companies, we know his position on the European Union - there was absolutely nothing new.
“But I thought he was respectful, he was polite, he was praiseworthy of what Ireland has done.
“The reality was, there was nothing that happened or was said that in any way damages Ireland in the international scene and that’s the main thing.”
'Nice suit' - Taoiseach Micheál Martin's attire was complimented by an American journalist during his meeting with the US President, drawing parallels to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent Oval Office encounter.
Donald Trump and Vice President, JD Vance, had harassed Mr Zelenskyy for… pic.twitter.com/QYD7YX2L3d
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Mr Trump was much less positive about America’s relationship with the European Union, claiming at some length that Brussels had thwarted his attempts to expand his golf course at Doonbeg in County Clare.
"We have a problem in the European Union,” he said.
“They don't take our farm products. They don't take our cars.
"We take millions of cars, BMWs and Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagens and everything, we take millions of cars.
"I'm not happy with the European Union and we're going to win that financial battle."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin arrives at White House for meeting with US President Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/NlnmQgAOYX
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) March 12, 2025
During this tirade, Mr Martin did not speak up on behalf of the European Union but Mr Ahern said officials in Brussels are unlikely to complain.
“I think they are practical about it,” he said.
“Remember, the one issue that came up was the question about Apple - Ireland took a different position to the European Union on that.
“We worked hard for 40, 50-years to bring American investment, multinationals, in here.
“I think everyone in the country is proud of that, it’s brought huge investment, it’s brought huge employment.”
You can listen back here:
Main image: Split of Bertie Ahern and the Oval Office. Pictures by Alamy.com and Newstalk.
