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TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN took a “back seat” while US President Donald Trump went off on uncomfortable tangents.
That’s largely the consensus from international news outlets after observing the White House visit yesterday, where the leaders came face to face for a lengthy press conference that was mostly jovial, but not without a few digs.
Politico called the press conference a Trump “monologue” that was “at-times excruciating”.
“Martin, a diplomatic veteran, spent long periods sitting in bemused silence, his hands clasped tightly on his thighs and a Mona Lisa smile on his face. Trump, beside him, spent much of their time bashing past U.S. presidents and Brussels, although aiming no direct hits at Ireland.”
CBS said that, while it was “nothing like with the Zelenskyy meeting from two weeks ago”, there was some “underlying acrimony” from Trump’s side.
“[Trump] added Ireland to the list of countries he thought were taking advantage of the United States,” Fin Gómez, CBS News’s Political Director, said, referencing Trump’s comments on the pharmaceutical industry.
The New York Post also covered the comments and the palpable awkwardness.
“Trump ranted as Martin sat awkwardly next to him.”
The New York Times said, despite entertaining Trump’s antics, Martin wasn’t able to make him budge on tariffs.
The paper pointed to Martin’s markedly reserved disposition as a signal that he was trying to avoid a repeat of the Zelenskyy debacle.
In its ‘key takeaway’ article about the visit, Al Jazeera said Trump “took up much of the spotlight”, while Martin “appeared relatively silent”.
Overall, it said the visit was “relatively warm”, despite obvious tensions sparked by the US tarrif war with the EU.
It highlighted the the mutual “flattery” between Trump and Martin – the President saying the Taoiseach’s father was “a great fighter” and that he isn’t going to “mess around” with Martin.
The Taoiseach repeatedly lauded the President’s peacemaking efforts, referencing recent accelerations in talks about Ukraine and Gaza.
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Martin did okay. Trump will take almost anything as a slight and pursue vengence as a result. What did anyone expect? Don’t blame Martin for having to get through yesterday without Trump going off the rails. That’s the fault of most of the American voters.
@Numinous20111: Agree. Trump is an autocrat and there is nothing to gain by antagonising him only a lot to lose.
@Numinous20111: The American voters did great. I only wish Trump would invade us and save Ireland too.
@Numinous20111: well I don’t think trump respected Martin as he is not manly enough, but more macho than Simon and definitely Leo. With Martins Da being a prizefighter back in the day that helped but Martin should have utilised McGregor more, who trump loves.
@Micky The Pikey: McGregor… Hahahahaha. Waste of breath that guy.
@DavyDoDa: trump loves him so can be used for the good of the country.
@Numinous20111:
Well the 51% that voted for him.
The 49.5% that didn’t have to suffer for now.
@Micky The Pikey:
In what way?
By reminding him of his own similarities,and court case.
@Numinous20111: I suppose Zelensky did ‘okay’, took Trump to task about his ramblings and came out with intelligence and security from the US. When did the republic become so servile, making the rich richer when the ordinary person pays for it, and that includes those on Social Welfare.
Not a FF fan but I thought Martin handled the event with aplomb and diplomatic skill. Kind of like a husband having to listen to a scolding wife.
Think it went as well as it could have from what I saw. Considering all the doom mongering that was going on beforehand.
And what did biden do, looked dazed and confused and mumbles words, and it’s just reported as the annual st Patricks day meeting at the White house, but when it’s a president ye don’t like they pick out the bits that shine a bad light on it. There was a lot of bad light when biden was there but it was glossed over. Media will ye cop on always trying to divide and stir the pot. Just report the news that the two leaders met. The guy is in power, deal with it. he could cripple us economically if he wanted to, were no bigger than a couple of big ranches in that country.
@brendan C5: bits? MM spoke like maybe 3 paragraphs that whole meeting. Trump was speaking the rest of them, mostly rambling on and on, interrupting himself with non sequitors, repeating himself constantly. He was genuinely hard to listen to. “Stirring the pot” watch the meeting and you’ll find that the way they’re reporting on it is exactly what happened.
@Fishlord “Fishlord_Username” Username: wow he talks a lot, shock horror. It’s the behind closed doors discussions that matter.
It’s entirely possible to be of both opinions at the same time. No doubt MM was on a hiding to nothing here.. dammed if he did, dammed if he didn’t. On one hand he did what he had to do.. get in and get out without this turning into a complete siht show.. but on the other hand, It was a complete cringe fest and rather embarrassing watching him cower to the White House’s car salesman in such a manner.
Total rubbish reporting on the event. Is it legitimate for media outlets to be so biased against Trump. Thump was composed considering the RANTING of the media questioning.
@thomas molloy: You obviously didn’t watch the Oval office meeting.
@thomas molloy: I’m sure the State controlled Fox News, Truth Social and X gave an unbiased account of events Tommy lad. Did you buy your Tesla yet ?
@thomas molloy: Oh, did the bold lady upset you? Just hug your Trump blow-up doll and everything will be okay?
@Seamus Enright: Available on Temu – €9.99 including new tarrifs.
@thomas molloy: True. It is not unbiased journalism only far left activist behavior
@thomas molloy: you don’t need to be biased against Trump to give him bad publicity, he sat there embarrassing himself enough.
Politicised media parroting fellow Democrat Party news rags “The New York Post also covered the comments and the palpable awkwardness.
“Trump ranted as Martin sat awkwardly next to him.”
They are hoping again that people did not see the actual cordial constructive meeting footage.
@thomas molloy: The New York Post is a right-wing, Murdoch tabloid rag, like The Sun in the UK.
@Jacintha Dumbrell: true. It’s vile.
@thomas molloy: Yeah they are so biased. No quotes from right wing mainstream media.
@thomas molloy: i mean have you watched the meeting? That’s exactly what happened.
M Martin remained calm throughout , he very firmly got his points accross , he did the right thing when handling a live grenade like D Trump , im proud of our Taoseach .
Mickey did well. The bromance blossomed. In fairness, Macron and Starmer who visited before him also did very well. Zelensky is not the yardstick. He was arrogant and foolish to not prepare for what was coming. Wrong hill to die on. So many unforced errors. Jesus all he had to do was wear socks with Stars ‘n’ Stripes on them, overdo the “Thank you, Mr Eastwood” guff, and sing “Let’s give peace a chance”. All he was missing was the Canada Goose jacket from the little tough guy look. Next time try a ceremonial military uniform with all the trimmings, not the middle aisle in Aldi. He’s no statesman. Play the game.
@Dolly Mounted – Norside Drag Queen: The Irish gov need to stop bowing to Zelensky. We look weak.
@Beachvibe: You need to stop bending over for Trump mate. You and your ilk on here are sick.
@Con Cussed: “You have chosen to mute Beachvibe comments”. Works like a charm.
RTE news : Chambers given 2024 housing figures before election – SF
http://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0313/1501897-housing-figure-jack-chambers/
SF hypocrites out in force again.
How come MLMCD tells her SFIRA fund raising team not to mention Gaza when she’s raising money from Irish Americans?
@Paul: Are Sinn Féin in the room with you right now?
@Jacintha Dumbrell: nope. Only mammy with the wipes. Emotional support blankie has been ruined. Waaaaaaah!
@Dolly Mounted – Norside Drag Queen: busy trying to get Gould and his cronie off the hook. How much did Gould donate?
@Paul: Agree, they are pro foreigner not pro Irish
@Paul: Emma Little-Pengelly showed she has more leadership qualities than Ms McDonald. Ms McDonald was afraid to go as she didn’t know which way to jump.
Rubbish and one sided article from Ms Maguire -
@Mike Ryan: She’s using her “work” to have her wokist tantrum because MM didn’t pander to the demands of leftist dossers.
Is there an ” IGNORE ALL ARTICLES BY THIS JOURNALIST” button anywhere on this site?
@Mike Ryan: what one sidedness? The summary of every article that was mentioned here is “Trump spoke a lot, and MM sat there quielty”. Which is exactly what happened if you watch the meeting. Doesn’t even make a value judgement about it.
Can’t wait for the mehole diddly diddly begorrah begosh orange shamrock socks memes
@Grainne Kelly: is that you, Gráinne Seoige?
Trump doesn’t discuss or negotiate. He rants and spouts prepared soundbites.
Imagine, The Micky telling Trump that that ‘we did our best not to take it’ when Trump brought up the subject of the Apple money. What a servile worm he is.
It was diplomacy not politics: commentators generally didnt seem to understand the difference. The Taoiseach played the cards he was dealt, superbly. Despite Trumps “chip on both shoulders” about who ” done them wrong” and ( up her own arse)Von Der Leyens hamfisted announcements about EU retalitors tariffs against the US just before the Taoiseach was about to meet the President, the White House meeting ended well.
Nothing on the Burkes spending thousands to go to Washington to make absolute tits of themselves. Ah well.
@Setanta O’Toole: Theyrr best left ignored and unreported (they were in yesterday’s news. They *are* yesterday’s news).
@Setanta O’Toole: Agreed. Here come the St Patrick’s Day parade floats with the antics parodies (though it is hard to distinguish from reality).
Irish media only pick left wing media to reprint. So sorry if this upsets them.
The Washington Times
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
White House senior trade adviser Peter Navarro warned reporters Wednesday that their media coverage affects how the economy reacts and that most media coverage is unfair to President Trump.
“The last thing I’ll say is, I would just ask you in the media to understand your responsibility. I know that there’s a lot of folks in the media who don’t like this president,” he said.
“The media, the legacy media, in particular, has published far more negative stories than positive. But when you write for broadcast that there’s going to be wild inflation and recession and set people’s hair on fire, that does have impacts on consumer confidence.”
The time, for ranting and raving is absolutely over, as it should be, One, has retired from that, but I’m sure they in a private meeting behind closed doors, will or has lead in that room to more constructive and substantial progress in mutual relations as genuine friends, and any deals between them will be done with respect and trust as it should be.
Let’s see what public thinks!
@Rolf Kane: behind closed doors is where Martin gives Trump the optional extras.
Gutter journalism. The only ones ranting were the shouty leftie news outlets doing their best to inflame the conversation at a crucial time in peace talks. Absolutely shameless.
Every reason not to waste good money on newspapers rags today so…
mm should have told him to f off if he is not happy
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