Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been lambasted by the opposition for not being critical enough of US president Donald Trump’s war in Iran and not correcting him on President Catherine Connolly’s gender. The Taoiseach met with Mr Trump in the Oval Office for over 40 minutes on Tuesday as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations. During the meeting, Mr Martin said that the US president was “doing his bit” for peace in the Middle East. “I don't think Micheál Martin successfully represented the Irish people's position, who strongly oppose international law being broken and who strongly oppose illegal wars. “But I think it's really important that Micheál Martin said what he said in relation to immigration and also in relation to Europe.”In the Dáil, Fianna Fáil justice minister Jim O’Callaghan also praised Mr Martin.

Source: Irish Examiner March 18, 2026 19:21 UTC