Pool Reports of March 12, 2025

Intown pool 1 — Martin arrives

Greetings from your print pooler for the day. The arrival was open press but here are some notes.

Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin arrived at the White House at 11:34 a.m. A couple dozen military flag bearers lined the driveway. US and Irish flags flanked the White House door.

Trump was asked about inflation. "Very good news," he said.

A bilateral meeting with Trump in the Oval Office is expected to start within minutes.

Intown pool 2 — bilateral meeting begins

The bilateral meeting between President Donald Trump and Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin began at 11:46

https://otter.ai/u/yFqxjwytMbQnhnzZSmuxcbPhqY8

Intown pool 3 — EU tariffs

"We do have a massive deficits with Ireland," Trump said

Ireland got pharmaceuticals through smart taxation.

European Union has been very tough," Trump said. "I'm not knocking it. But it asides ill will."

Intown pool 4 — Trump prices going down

"In a very short period of time we've done very well." Trump said.

Eggs and oil down

Intown pool 4 — trump education

"many of them don't work at all," Trump said. "We're keeping the best ones."

They're not showing up to work," he said. "They're not doing a good job."

Dream is to move Dept of Education to states.

Intown pool 5 — Trump no comment on Putin

"I won't comment on that," Trump said.

We have people going over there."

Vance calls taking place.

Trust Putin?

"We haven't spoken to him yet," Trump said.

Intown pool 6 —

"I love these socks," Trump said of Vance's socks.

Asked about Northern Ireland parties not attending meetings.

"I haven't heard that," Trump said.

Intown pool 7 — Israel

Trump was asked a long question about Israel and Gaza.

"we're working hard with Israel trying to solve the problem," Trump said.

Intown pool 8 — EU tariffs

Trump was asked about responding to EU tariffs.

"Of course I will respond," Trump said.

He said Ireland is among countries taking advantage of US.

Intown pool 9 — Corp taxes

Trump was asked if he aimed to lower corporate taxes to match Ireland.

"We are planning to lower taxes if Democrats behave," Trump said.

Intown pool 10 — Schumer

"Schumer is a Palestinian as far as I'm concerned," Trump said.

He previously criticized Pocohontas and other "sick" Democrats.

Intown pool 11 —

I'm not upset with you. I respect what you did," Trump said.

Martin said Ryan Air and another company are buying US planes.

"It's a very good relationship we have," Nartin said.

"There is a massive deficit we have with Ireland," Trump said.

Intown pool 12 — Russia pressure

Trump said Bush, Obama and Biden gave up Georgia and Crimea, and he's doing more.

"It could be devastating," Trump said of potential financial penalties on Russia.

Intown pool 13 — Martin in housing

The No 1 issue in Ireland is housing," Martin said.

Asked about Rosie O'Donnell moving to Ireland Martin didn't comment.

Intown pool 14 — Putin

Refuses to assess chance of deal with Putin.

I think it makes sense for Russia," Trump aid. "We've also discussed land."

"We don't want to be wasting time while we're talking here," Trump said.

Intown pool 15 —

Asked about undocumented Irish:

"I think the Irish love Trump," Trump said. We don't want to do anything to hurt Ireland."

Intown pool 16 — Ireland

Martin said Trump is the only president to invest in Ireland.

Trump complimented golfer Rory McElroy (sp?)

"If we meet we'll meet at" Trump golf course in Ireland.

Intown pool 17 — bilateral ends 12:35 pm

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]

Intown pool 18 — trying again on otter

https://otter.ai/u/yFqxjwytMbQnhnzZSmuxcbPhqY8

Intown pool 18 — motorcade left 11:44

heading to lunch at Rayburn House Office Building

Intown pool 19 — false start

We initially circled the south driveway. Actually headed away from White House toward Rayburn at 12:50 pm

Intown pool 20 — arrived Capitol 12:55

arrived at Rayburn pm. Moderate crowd no signs waiting for motorcade at 15th and E. Scattered lines of people here and there — no obvious protesters or supporters — along National Mall and Independence avenue. Larger crowds around House office buildings. Circled the Capitol on First Streets on either side for a beautiful view of the Dome, then crossed East Front above CVC.

Intown pool 21 — correcting location

Lunch is in Rayburn Room of Capitol. My misunderstanding. Drive was up Indeoendence to First, past Supreme Court to Constitution and onto Capitol grounds.

Intown pool 22 — entering lunch 1:46

pool held in Statuary Hall. We could hear bagpipers. Entered lunch at 1:46 pm. Trump taking pictures tableside.

Intown pool 23 — otter for lunch

https://otter.ai/u/DhqTxIqfDvdCddkXs3jCCs_3kZw

Starting with House Soeaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Intown pool 23 — Johnson lost written toast

he fumbled with papers on the podium. He assured the luncheon that it was a great toast. Laughter. He adlibbed a brief toast with a glass of water.

Intown pool 24 —

Speakers at podium in front of painting of George Washington, flanked by US and Ireland flags.

Intown pool 25 — Martin

Martin also got a standing ovation.

"It is a good feeling to be Covid free and to be here again," he said after missing a previous lunch with the illness.

"You are absolutely a great friend of Ireland," Martin said. He hopes Trump will visit golf course again.

Hopes to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East.

"We're going wish you well," Martin said of peace efforts.

Intown pool 26 — river dance dancers

stopping otter. Abridged version of show but a show is playing at Kennedy Center. Six women, two men. Outfits in all green or blue for women, black for men. Man has hand-held percussion. Two women have what looks like a clarinet and a violin.

Intown pool 27 — oool left lunch during dancing 2:12 on

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]

Intown pool 28 — Trump Capitol

pool held at bottom of House steps forTrump departure. Bagpipes played Trump, Johnson and Narrin down the stairs. Trump pumped his fist before getting in Beast at 2:26 pm

Intown pool 29 — back at White House 2:32 pm

uneventful ride.

Intown pool 30 — Pool gathering for St. Patrick's Day reception

The event will be live-streamed, so I'll avoid cluttering your in-boxes with as many updates as with the Oval Office meeting and Capitol lunch. But I'll try running another Otter during speeches.

https://www.c-span.org/event/white-house-event/president-trump-holds-white-house-st-patricks-day-reception/431623

Intown pool 31 — reception otter

Trump entered East Room at 5: 47 pm. To applause.

east room set up lengthwise, leaving little view to those in back beneath camera riser. Standing room crowd, very crowded. Michael Flatley spotted by sharper eyes than mine, with Riverdance playing at Kennedy Center. At least one green Make America Great Again cap in the middle of the audience. Six flags alternating US and Ireland behind podium.

https://otter.ai/u/O4Vji7HBcINwm08kDR_VTXD3c34

Intown pool 32 — attendees

Trump noted Irish descendants on Cabinet: Sean Duffy at Transportation and Robert F Kennedy Jr at HHS.

AG Pam Bondi, VA Secretary Doug Collins and EPA administrator Lee Zeldin attending.

Big applause for Flatley when Trump mentioned him.

Shamrock reception dates to 1952, Trump said. Mentioned war fighting again and famous Irish descendants.

"Ireland stuck with us when things weren't looking so good," Trump said.

Intown pool 33 — full otter

Speaking stopped around 6:11 pm. Here's the full otter.

https://otter.ai/u/O4Vji7HBcINwm08kDR_VTXD3c34

Intown pool 34 — lid

we had a lid called at 6:28 pm

Foreign Pool Report #1 - Background on Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin

Hi folks,

I will be your foreign pooler today, covering the visit of the Irish Prime minister Micheál Martin today. As a reminder, the Irish word used for "leader" is Taoiseach, pronounced "tee-shock".

Here is a brief background that I hope will be helpful to your coverage of today's events:

Mr. Martin recently returned to the role as Taoiseach. He served in the same capacity between 2020 and 2022, as part of a swap deal between his party Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael who got to appoint Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach 2022-2024. Varadkar was the last Irish Taoiseach to visit the White house - last year almost to the date, in this traditional Irish visit to celebrate St Patricks Day and the relationship between the countries.

The last visit of Taoiseach Martin to Washington ended somewhat awkwardly with him isolating in Blair house after catching covid-19. Instead of meeting with then President Biden, the Taoiseach met with the Biden virtually.

Prime minister Martin started his week-long visit in Austin where he attended the SXSW and in a speech highlighted that "thousands and thousands of jobs depend on the economic relationship between the United States and Ireland"

The bilateral is expexted to cover a range of issues including a focus on "focus on economic, political and people-to-people connections", per a Taoiseach statement before the trip.

The Irish economy relies heavily on trade with and investments from the United States. Last year Ireland exported around 78 billion dollars worth of goods to the US - while imports amounted to only 22 billion dollars. The Irish trade surplus towards the US is amongst the largest in the world. In a few weeks Trump is expected to impose reciprocal trade tariffs towards the EU, of which Ireland is a member.

Ireland, with a corporate tax rate of 12.5 percent, has also become home to the European operations of many American companies.

Other topics that the leaders may discuss are the status of undocumented Irish citizens in the United states and also the war in Gaza. Ireland is a fierce critic of Israel's handling of the war in Gaza - and earlier this winter joined the genocide case against Israel brought before the International Court of Justice by South Africa. In 2024 Ireland also recognized the state of Palestine.

The evening Shamrock reception at the White House has been a tradition since Dwight Eisenhower launched it in 1953. Hundreds of guests are expected to attend the event in the East Room. It's estimated that there are 70 million people worldwide of Irish heritage, of which over 30 million live in the U.S. In 2023, Ireland itself had just over five million inhabitants.

Micheál Martin was born in Cork, Ireland and spent only a year of his career teaching before becoming a full time politician. He won a seat in the Dáil Éireann, the lower house in the Irish parliament in 1989.

Foreign Pool Report #2 - Arrival/gathering for Oval

The Irish Prime Minister arrived later than expected to the White house with the motorcade coming through the gate at 11.33

He was greeted by President Trump who responded "Very good news" to a shouted question about the latest inflation numbers.

Both leaders smiled for the cameras for a few seconds before entering the West wing.

Pool is now gathered for the Oval spray which we expect will happen at any moment.

Foreign Pool Report #3 - Oval spray and departure

Oval spray started at 11.40 and ended 50 minutes later, with Taoiseach Martin answering a few questions and President Trump answering many.

Quotes to come in separate report.
After pool was ushered out, fellow Foreign pooler Marek Walkuski noted that President Trump got in the same car as the Irish PM, stayed for a minute or so in the car, and then went back into the West wing.

They are expected to both attend the Friends of Ireland Luncheon at Capitol Hill, which is now running late.

Irish motorcade departed the White house at 12.43.

Foreign Pool Report #4 - Fuller Oval quotes

The pool entered the the Oval at 11:44.

Some newsworthy material on Foreign policy:
Trump threatening Russia with "devastating" financial measures:
Trump: "There are things that wouldn't be pleasant in a financial sense. I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia. I don't want to do it that because I want to get peace"

Trump: "In a financial sense, yes we could do things that would be very bad for Russia, that would be devastating for Russia. But I don't want to do that."

Trump on whether he will retaliate on the EU retaliatory tariffs:
Trump: "Of course I will respond"

Q: "Will you put tariffs on European cars, is that something you are considering?"
Trump: "Yes, absolutely"

From the top:
President Trump thanks Mr. Martin calling him a "special guy" and calling the relationship between both countries as "very very strong and very very good"
PM Martin in return thanked President Trump for his hospitality and also said that he "commend you in terms of the work you're doing in reaching peace".

Print pooler has covered a lot of Trump quotes. The Taoiseach spoke on a total of x occasions for a total of aroud x minutes out of the 50.

The Irish PM jumped in answering a question about trade relations:
"It's a two way street too, but we are investing a lot more in America now, and people might not realize but Ryanair one of our biggest airlines, and Aircap buy more Boeing airplanes than anybody else."
"That's good", Trump responded.

More on trade relations from the PM:
"There's a lot of Irish companies here now, about 700 Irish companies based in America."
"We've added value to American companies"
"I understand where you are coming from fully, but I think it's a relationship that we can develop and that will endure into the future."

On pharmaceutical companies:
"I think the pharmaceutical companies in Ireland are doing very well".
"I think there is actually room, and we can discuss this further, but I think there is room for this companies to grow in America."

When Trump did not answer a question about half of parties from the Northern Ireland government boycotting the WH St Patricks events because of Trump's stance on Gaza, Taoiseach Martin jumped in again:
"One thing we've learned in Ireland about the peace process that you've just spoken about, and I recall back in the early 90s when the first tentative steps to get peace in our people criticized people like John Hume or people like Albert Reynolds, but they kept going. And when we got that ceasefire in '93, it took a number of years to get the comprehensive peace, but again, the guns more or less largely went silent."

"The war in Ukraine is a devastating war on young people."
"Anything we can do to stop the violence, I think, is an extremely powerful thing."
"It's our job to try"

On what the PM would to if he wanted to "make Ireland great again":
"The number one issue is housing, to be honest. We got to build more houses. We got to build them faster, to get the young people an opportunity to buy a house or rent a house. That is my number one priority"

On whether PM Martin would use the bilateral meeting to about the Irish view on Gaza the Taoiseach responded:
"The president is very well suited to know the whole situation. We share the President's unrelenting voice for peace."
"I went to kibbutz Be'eri after October 7th, in solidarity with Israel, and that get's forgotten."
"It's complex, but we desperately need the hostages released, all of them. We have to surge the humanitarian aid going into Gaza, because again, there are too many children and people starving."
"It's always been my view, and it is our view that that a two state solution would be ideal"

On Trump's golf course:
"You have the distinction of being the only US president to invest in Ireland. And for anybody, you should go there. If you don't play golf you should go, it's a stunning landscape.

Let me know if you have any questions

Foreign Pool Report #5 - Waltz phone convo with Russian counterpart

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt answered a few questions a couple of minutes ago.

A few notes on Foreign Policy:
Referring to National Security Advisor Mike Waltz she said "he informed me that he has had a call today with his Russian counterpart, and the President's team continues to be engaged"

Leavitt also confirmed plans for Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to travel to Moscow "later this week", adding: "we urge the Russians to sign on to this plan. This is the closest we have been to peace in this war. We are at the 10th yard line and the President expects the Russians to help us run this into the end zone.

Finally, Leavitt declined to preview tomorrow's meeting between POTUS and the Secretary General of Nato Mark Rutte.
She did however say "I'm quite confident, as he always does when it comes to NATO, he will urge the NATO Secretary the President's belief that NATO countries need to pay their fair share for their own defense."

Leavitt reiterated the President's desire for NATO countries to spend 5% of GDP on defense.

Foreign Pool Report #6 - St Patrick's event and lid

The traditional St Patrick's Day event started at 5.47PM.

Irish Taoiseach entered the East Room together with his wife Mary O'Shea, standing on either side of President Trump as the American president spoke for about 14 minutes.

Taoiseach Martin in his speech noted that three of the 56 signatories of the U.S. declaration of independence were born on the Island of Ireland.
"Those who came to America seeking refuge from poverty and hunger at home worked hard. They helped build the railroads that connected this country and the skylines that defined it. Others served their communities and their adopted home as firefighters, teachers, nurses, doctors, policemen and soldiers. Irish people can now be found in almost every industry and community across the United States. Mr. President, Irish Americans have lived the American Dream.

Mr. Martin also focused on economic issues noting that Ireland is among the top ten countries when it comes to foreign direct investment into the US.
"Let us continue to work together to make sure that we maintain that mutually beneficial two way economic relationship that has allowed innovation and creativity and prosperity to thrive"

The Taoiseach also praised President Trump's efforts to bring peace in the Middle East and Ukraine, noting that "The story of peace in Ireland" was one both countries "wrote together".
"We know building peace is a difficult and painstaking task, but when the United States of America puts its shoulder to the wheel, there is no mountain it cannot move."

"Conflict and war hurt the most wonderful. Too many children, in particular in Gaza, in Israel, in Sudan and too many children have been abducted in Ukraine. Let us together, deliver peace prosperity and opportunity for all of the world's children. that would be an extraordinary achievement for the transatlantiv relationship, and an extraordinary legacy for the ages."

Last but not least, Mr. Martin said to Mr. Trump "I hope we can welcome you to Ireland soon".

Event ended at 6.12PM with President Trump receiving the traditional Shamrock bowl.

Shortly after, the White house press office called a travel/photo lid at 6.28.

As far as your pooler knows the Irish delegation was still in or around the East room at the time of lid.