Dual ‘land mines’ of tariffs and war complicate Irish leader’s White House visit

Vice President JD Vance may have worn shamrock socks to welcome Ireland’s leader to the White House, but conflicts including a brewing trade war dampened the traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebrations that came with his visit.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin was in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for a meeting with
President Donald Trump, but tariffs and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza set political “land mines” for Martin, according to European policy expert Donatienne Ruy.

“The Irish government has been vocal on Israel’s actions in Gaza and Palestinian statehood, Ireland has supported Ukraine with hundreds of millions of euros in non-lethal aid, and, perhaps most top-of-mind for the U.S. president, Ireland has a large trade surplus in goods with the United States,” said Ruy, a fellow with

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