Trump said that the Irish are ‘smart people’ who ‘took our pharmaceutical companies and other companies.
During a meeting in the Oval Office, former US President Donald Trump claimed Ireland has the US pharmaceutical industry "in its grip" and is "taking advantage" of the US, while also stating the EU was set up to do the same. He criticized past US leaders for allowing companies to move to Ireland, suggesting he would have imposed tariffs. Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended Ireland, highlighting reciprocal investment and noting the two-way nature of the economic relationship. Trump also commented on the Apple tax case, Ireland's housing crisis, and his perceived popularity in Ireland. Martin stated that housing was a top priority for Ireland. The Taoiseach declined to be drawn on the specific claims made by Donald Trump.
