Simon Harris has expressed his support for the Taoiseach’s meeting with US president Donald Trump, saying “it’s more important than ever” to engage. Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in 2025 (Niall Carson/PA)Mr Martin said Mr Trump believes the annual engagement is a chance “to celebrate the special relationship between our two countries”. Calls were made last year for the Taoiseach to drop the trip as Mr Trump began his second term as president. Asked at a Fine Gael Disability Network Conference in Galway if he would meet Mr Trump as taoiseach, Mr Harris said he would, adding: “It’s really important that you’re engaged.”“It’s really easy to turn up when everyone’s getting along great and everyone agrees on absolutely everything. Mr Harris said he “absolutely deplores racism in all its forms” and referred to reports that Fine Gael councillor Yemi Adenuga was racially attacked last week.

Source: Irish Examiner February 08, 2026 10:04 UTC