“VERY TOUGH”
“I’m not upset with you. I think I respect what you’ve done,” said Trump. “But the United States shouldn’t have let it happen.”
The US president complained about “tremendously bad” treatment of tech titan Apple, which was ordered by Brussels to pay a multi-billion-euro tax settlement to Ireland.
It then got personal, as it often seems to with Trump, as the billionaire former property developer complained about EU red tape holding up the expansion of a resort he owns in Ireland.
Trump finally returned to one of his favorite themes as he launched a broader attack on the 27-nation European Union.
“The EU was set up in order to take advantage of the United States,” Trump said.
Trump also doubled down on his threats to impose reciprocal tariffs on the European Union in April.
“So whatever they charge us, we’re charging them”.
When Martin got a word in edgeways, he tried to strike a diplomatic tone.
“It’s a two-way street,” Martin said, adding that Ireland was stepping up investments in the United States.
“It’s a relationship that we can develop and that will endure into the future.”
Trump agreed – and then went back to speaking about the deficit.
The Irish and US leaders also ended up talking past each other on the subject of the Israel-Hamas war.
Non-NATO member Ireland is one of the most pro-Palestinian countries in Europe, in stark contrast to Trump who has called for the US to “take over” Gaza.
“It’s been our view that a two-state solution is the ideal,” Martin said.
