President Trump welcomed Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day, where a brief ceremonial exchange celebrating the deep historical bonds between Ireland and the United States quickly gave way to a wide-ranging press availability dominated by Trump’s ongoing military campaign against Iran. Trump boasted that U.S. forces have “decimated” Iran’s navy, air force, radar, and missile stockpiles; lambasted NATO allies for praising the operation while refusing to contribute minesweepers or other support; took pointed aim at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s lack of backing; announced that a U.S.–China summit has been rescheduled for approximately five weeks out; and dismissed criticism from Ireland’s own president that the Iran strikes violate international law — telling reporters the Irish president is “lucky I exist.” Through it all, Taoiseach Martin offered a careful diplomatic counterpoint, defending the transatlantic relationship, vouching for Starmer’s character, acknowledging Iran’s record as a state sponsor of terrorism, and urging both sides toward an eventual peaceful resolution. Assistance from Claude AI.
Participants
- Donald Trump — President of the United States
- Micheál Martin — Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland (Note: The Taoiseach, pronounced “TEE-shukh,” is the head of government in Ireland, roughly equivalent to a prime minister)
- JD Vance — Vice President of the United States (present in the room; spoke briefly on militia attacks)
- Marco Rubio — U.S. Secretary of State (present in the room; spoke on Cuba)
- Multiple reporters — Questions from U.S. and international press, including correspondents from Irish and British outlets and GB News
Opening Remarks: Celebrating the U.S.–Ireland Relationship
Trump opened by calling Martin’s visit “a great honor,” saying the two nations have “a tremendous trade relationship” and predicting it will “expand very greatly.” In what became a running joke, Trump acknowledged that tariffs would probably come up — “I won’t mention that. You know, I won’t bring that up” — and then invited Martin to raise them himself.
Martin responded warmly, framing the visit in historical terms. He noted that approximately 35 million Americans claim Irish descent, that three Irish-born individuals signed the Declaration of Independence, and that the Declaration itself was printed by Irishman John Dunlap and distributed across the colonies. He also highlighted Stephen Moylan — a figure from Martin’s own hometown of Cork — as the man credited with first writing down the phrase “the United States of America,” a document now held in a New York museum.
Trump chimed in that Charles Thompson, who the two had apparently discussed beforehand, designed the Great Seal of the United States — including the bald eagle — another Irish connection. Martin confirmed it.
The exchange turned to presidential heritage: Martin told Trump that 23 U.S. presidents have had Irish ancestry, a figure Trump found remarkable. “Can you believe it?” Trump said. “They’re great politicians. The Irish are great politicians.” Both men noted that some of those presidents — including Ulysses S. Grant — visited Ireland after their terms. Martin recalled Ronald Reagan’s famous 1984 stop in Ballyporeen, County Tipperary, and the emotional resonance of John F. Kennedy’s 1963 Ireland visit, just months before his assassination.
Trump made a veiled reference to a “non-controversial” Kennedy family member currently in his administration — an apparent nod to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his Secretary of Health and Human Services — drawing a knowing response from Martin.
Trump’s Doonbeg Golf Resort and the Irish Open
A reporter asked whether Trump planned to visit Ireland in September and whether he would stay at Doonbeg, his family’s golf resort on the west coast of Ireland.
Trump was enthusiastic. He confirmed the resort has been chosen to host the Irish Open, calling it “one of the big ones” and “really one of the most important tournaments in the world.” He noted that golfer Rory McIlroy is a fan of the course and said the family is “going to try” to attend.
A follow-up question introduced an unexpected twist: a reporter told Trump that a planned expansion of the Doonbeg resort has been held up by an environmental objection — specifically over small snails. Trump said he hadn’t heard about it. “Somebody’s objecting — an environmental group is objecting to small snails at Doonbeg?” he asked. “It doesn’t sound like the biggest problem I’ve ever had.”
Iran: Military Operations, NATO Criticism, and the Day-After Question
This section dominated the press availability. Reporters peppered Trump with questions about the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran — referred to in earlier coverage as Operation Epic Fury and Operation Midnight Hammer — and Trump offered his most expansive public account yet of the operation’s scope and his frustrations with allies.
Trump’s Account of the Military Campaign
Trump described Iran’s military as comprehensively destroyed:
- Navy: “Wiped out” within “a couple of days”
- Air force: “Decimated” — “They have no air force”
- Radar: “Entirely gone”
- Anti-aircraft systems: “Gone”
- Missiles: Down to approximately 8% of pre-war stockpiles; factories still being struck
- Mine-laying boats: 24 vessels destroyed — “They’re at the bottom of the sea”
- Senior leadership: Trump said Iran’s “top person” was killed the day before the meeting, along with an official he described as responsible for the killing of protesters — citing figures of 32,000 to 41,000 killed by the regime
Trump claimed U.S. forces could “knock out their electricity in a matter of minutes” and could destroy oil infrastructure at Kharg Island (Iran’s primary oil export terminal) but have deliberately chosen not to, in order to preserve it for a future Iranian government. “Whoever it is that’s going to be running that and we’re going to try to get people that are going to run it well,” he said — a rare public hint at regime-change thinking.
The Nuclear Threat Justification
Trump repeatedly returned to the nuclear threat as his core justification:
“They would have had a nuclear weapon within one month of when we had the B-2 bombers bomb the nuclear potential.”
He said that if Iran had obtained a nuclear weapon, “I would say they would have used it within 24 hours,” and predicted the resulting war could have struck Europe. “I think it would have hit Europe, maybe not Ireland, but it would have hit Europe.”
Trump also argued that he had stopped Iran “twice” — first by withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (the JCPOA) negotiated under President Obama during his first term, and second by ordering the B-2 bomber strikes that destroyed Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in the current conflict. Without those two actions, he said, “you would have had a nuclear holocaust.”
The “Day After” Plan
When asked directly whether he has a plan for post-conflict Iran, Trump said the country would take “10 years” to rebuild if the U.S. left immediately — but added: “We’ll be leaving in pretty much the very near future.” He offered no specific governance framework but expressed optimism about the Iranian people, calling them “smart and energetic” and describing Iran as a country that “used to be very successful” before becoming one “run by fear.”
The Joe Kent Resignation
A reporter asked about Joe Kent, Trump’s Director of National Counterterrorism, who had resigned that day, citing his inability to support the Iran conflict. Trump said he had read Kent’s resignation statement and concluded it was “a good thing that he’s out.”
“He said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat. Every country realized what a threat Iran was.”
Trump said he had always considered Kent “a nice guy” but “weak on security.”
NATO: Praised the Mission, Refused to Help
Trump’s frustration with NATO allies was a recurring theme. He acknowledged that every NATO member agreed Iran could not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon — “I don’t know of one that said they’re not a threat” — but said allies refused to contribute forces to the effort.
His specific ask was modest: not aircraft carriers or combat troops, but minesweepers, to help clear potential Iranian naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. (The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow waterway through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes — a chokepoint of enormous strategic and economic importance.)
“You would have thought they would have said, ‘We’d love to send a couple of minesweepers,’” Trump said. “It’s not a big deal. It doesn’t cost very much money.”
He drew a pointed contrast with Ukraine: “We helped with Ukraine. And they don’t help with Iran.” He estimated U.S. spending on Ukraine at “$350 billion to $400 billion” under the Biden administration.
When asked whether there would be repercussions for NATO, Trump stopped short of threatening withdrawal — “I have nothing currently in mind” — but made clear he considers it a live option: “I don’t need Congress for that decision, as you probably know, I can make that decision myself.”
Macron and France
When a reporter said French President Emmanuel Macron had just declared he would “never join a task force in the Strait of Hormuz until hostilities finish,” Trump dismissed the statement in a single line: “He’ll be out of office very soon, so we’ll have to see.”
Middle East Partners: Who Has Helped
In contrast to his NATO criticism, Trump praised Middle Eastern partners who he said have supported the operation:
- Qatar: “Great”
- UAE: “Absolutely great”
- Saudi Arabia: “Terrific”
- Bahrain: “Very good”
- Israel: Described as a “partner” and “very strong collaboration”
UK’s Keir Starmer: Nice Man, Wrong Policies
The meeting generated some of the most pointed commentary of the press availability regarding British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump said Starmer had offered to send two aircraft carriers after the major combat phase was essentially complete — an offer Trump rejected as too late. “We want things sent before the war, not after the war is won,” Trump said.
“I like him; I think he’s a nice man. But I’m disappointed.”
A GB News reporter asked Trump to make the case directly to British viewers for why supporting the U.S. was in the UK’s interest. Trump obliged, but pivoted to criticizing Starmer’s immigration and energy policies, calling both “disasters.”
On energy, Trump argued Britain is “paying a lot of money” buying oil from Norway when it sits atop the North Sea — one of the world’s richest offshore oil reserves. He criticized the proliferation of wind turbines across Scotland and England, saying windmills “kill the birds,” are “unsightly,” “make a lot of noise,” and are “very bad environmentally.” He added: “The windmills are made in China, but China doesn’t use them. You know what China uses? Coal.”
At one point, Trump gestured to a bust of Winston Churchill in the Oval Office, noting he had restored it after claiming President Obama had returned it to Britain. “And unfortunately, Keir is not Winston Churchill,” Trump said.
When asked directly whether he had confidence in Starmer or would prefer a different prime minister, Trump declined to go that far: “It’s really for the people of the UK to have confidence in —” before adding that he had been “very critical of Keir” on energy and immigration.
Martin offered a diplomatic defense of Starmer, noting he had just met with him the previous week and calling him “a very earnest, sound person” whom Trump has “a capacity to get on with.” Martin also gently pushed back on Trump’s Churchill invocation — noting that in Ireland, Churchill’s legacy is “a different perspective,” given his role in Ireland’s war of independence — while affirming Churchill’s status as “a great wartime hero.”
Iran Strikes and International Law: Ireland’s President Pushes Back
A reporter asked Trump to respond to comments from Ireland’s President (a separate office from the Taoiseach — Ireland has both a president, who is largely ceremonial, and a Taoiseach, who runs the government) that the U.S. military strikes on Iran violate international law.
Trump was dismissive: “He’s lucky I exist, that’s all I can say.” He argued that a nuclear-armed Iran would have posed an existential threat and that the world should be “very thankful” for the U.S. action.
Martin, notably, did not defend his president’s position. Instead, he offered a carefully constructed acknowledgment that Iran was a legitimate threat — noting that Ireland and European nations had sanctioned Iran and the IRGC (Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) as a terrorist organization, and that Iran had sponsored Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. “Most malign force in the Middle East,” Martin said.
But Martin also expressed Ireland’s traditional commitment to peace and diplomacy, drawing on the country’s experience with its own 30-year conflict (the Troubles in Northern Ireland). “All conflicts come to an end and I think we have to try and work towards that end,” he said, urging both Europe and the U.S. to seek a “landing zone” for resolution.
Iraqi Militia Attacks on U.S. Embassy
A reporter asked about militia attacks on the U.S. embassy and consulate in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Trump deferred to Vice President JD Vance, who said Secretary Rubio has been managing the situation by reducing embassy staffing to protect personnel while maintaining essential functions.
“There are a lot of terrorists in that region of the world, and we’ve got to eliminate when we find them.” — VP JD Vance
Cuba: Economy in Freefall, Changes “Not Dramatic Enough”
Trump asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address Cuba, which had apparently made some announcement the day before.
Rubio was blunt: Cuba’s economy “doesn’t work” and its government “can’t fix it.” Whatever Cuba announced, Rubio said it was “not dramatic enough.” The Cuban government’s survival has depended for decades on subsidies — first from the Soviet Union, then from Venezuela — and with Venezuelan support dwindling, Rubio said Cuba faces a reckoning.
When asked whether he supports easing the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba in exchange for political cooperation, Rubio declined to negotiate publicly but noted the embargo is “tied to political change on the island” and is codified in law — meaning Congress, not just the president, would need to act.
Trump touted the U.S.–Venezuela relationship as “incredible” and congratulated Venezuela’s baseball team, which was apparently in the finals of an international tournament that night.
U.S.–China Summit Rescheduled
When asked whether Iran had become a bigger foreign policy priority than China, Trump pushed back on the framing — calling Iran “just a military operation” that was “largely over in two or three days” — and announced that a previously planned U.S.–China summit has been rescheduled for approximately five weeks from now.
“We’re working with China; they were fine with it. We’re going to — I look forward to seeing President Xi.”
Trump described the U.S.–China economic relationship as “very good” and said both sides have “a very good working relationship.”
The Strait of Hormuz: Timeline and Coalition
On the question of when cargo ships will be able to safely transit the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said he did not believe it would be “too long,” with operations continuing along the Iranian coast. He reiterated that Middle Eastern partners — including Israel — have been helping significantly.
On whether a formal “coalition of the willing” would be announced, Trump noted robust support from Gulf states (Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain) and Israel, while again noting the absence of NATO participation.
Ireland on Immigration and Trade
Martin pushed back gently on Trump’s broader characterization of Europe as “overrun” by immigration. He said Europe is “still a very good place to live in” — prompting laughter — and defended Ireland’s immigration framework, noting that Ireland’s population is growing “in a very positive way” driven by legal migration from Europe and beyond.
Martin also raised the idea of establishing a legal migration pathway between the U.S. and Ireland, citing historical and cultural ties. “No one is in favor of illegal migration,” he said, but argued for robust legal channels.
On trade and technology, Martin noted that he and Vice President Vance had discussed AI and innovation earlier in the day, and said Europe needs to “pivot more to innovation as opposed to regulation.”
(Note: Ireland is home to European headquarters for many major U.S. tech companies — Google, Apple, Meta, and others — making the trade relationship between the two countries particularly significant, and Trump’s tariff policies a matter of direct concern for Dublin.)
Trump’s BBC Lawsuit
The final question of the press availability came from an Irish reporter who asked about Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC.
Trump described an incident in which the BBC broadcast what he characterized as AI-generated audio of him saying things he never said. “They put words in my mouth,” he said. “It was AI generated, and they admit they made a mistake.” He said he brought a lawsuit against the network and added: “They admit they’re guilty, but we’ll see how it comes out.”
Trump also criticized BBC’s coverage of the Iran campaign, saying the network portrayed it “almost like they’re fighting us to a draw. They’re not fighting us to a draw.”
He concluded by declaring that “fake news” — a term he takes credit for coining — no longer captures the severity of the problem: “It’s corrupt, fraudulent news. It really is — it’s beyond fake. It’s really criminal what they do.”
Source
“Remarks: Donald Trump Holds a Bilateral Meeting With Micheál Martin of Ireland – March 17, 2026.” Factbase / Roll Call / FiscalNote, 17 Mar. 2026, factba.se. Transcript retrieved via Roll Call/Factbase.