President Trump has not called Ireland’s new prime minister in a break with the convention that comes after incoming Taoiseach said European leaders must learn to “confront” Donald Trump.
The President of the US generally communicates with a new Irish Taoiseach shortly after his appointment, but Micheál Martin, who was appointed Taoiseach three weeks ago, told the Irish Parliament on Thursday that “he had not spoken to the President of the United States of America since my appointment as Taoiseach, “according to The Journal.
The White House has offered no explanation for the president’s lack of communication with Dublin, representing a break in recent tradition between two historically close allies.
President Trump called Leo Varadkar, the last Taoiseach, two weeks after his appointment. Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach before Varadkar, met with President Obama on St. Patrick’s Day less than two weeks after taking office.
Last July, Martin publicly criticized President Trump for telling four US congressmen to “return” to their home countries, despite the fact that all but one of them were born in the United States.
The leader of Fianna Fáil called Trump’s comments “scandalous” and “ridiculous” and “totally at odds with the spirit at the center of the American nation.”
He added: “A stage is coming when European politicians must also uphold core values and not be afraid to say that we fundamentally disagree with President Trump’s approach to progressive politicians who are making a difference in the United States, who they have legitimate points to articulate, “Martin said.
It is unclear whether Trump has heard Martin’s comments, but the president has been particularly sensitive to criticism from other leaders.
A furious Trump cut off his attendance at a NATO summit in London last year after a group of leaders, including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanuel Macron, they seemed to mock the president.
Martin has spoken to several other leaders since his appointment. He made a phone call with Boris Johnson on June 30, according to Downing Street, and also spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and with Charles Michel, President of the European Council.
In 2018, Martin, then opposition leader, said he would welcome Donald Trump’s visit even though the couple had “different views.”
“I have no difficulty meeting Donald Trump,” he said, according to The Journal.
“First, he is the democratically elected President of the United States, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar invited him last March, corresponding to the invitation we receive each year to the White House.”
“Of course, we appreciate the visit of any President of the United States.”
