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NEARLY 20 DAYS after being appointed Taoiseach, Micheál Martin has spoken to several world leaders and senior EU figures – but he still hasn’t received a call from US President Donald Trump.
In response to questions from TDs, Martin confirmed that he had “not spoken with the President of the United States of America since my appointment as Taoiseach”.
While few Taoisigh have faced a more uncertain world upon taking office, the lack of any communications with the White House is somewhat notable from a country traditionally seen as a key ally.
Leo Varadkar had a 10-15 minute phone call with Trump 14 days after being appointed Taoiseach.
Enda Kenny met Barack Obama in Washington for St Patrick’s Day shortly after being appointed taoiseach, while Brian Cowen met George Bush just over a month after taking office.
Martin has already spoken with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss Brexit and the Covid-19 crisis, while he has also been in contact with President of the European Council Charles Michel and German Chancellor Angela Merkel among others.
Prof Ben Tonra, who lectures on Irish foreign policy at University College Dublin, said the Trump presidency had already illustrated that it’s a place where “norms and procedures go out the window”.
“In the normal course of events this would be scheduled by the State department,” he said.
While stressing that “personal chemistry is decisive” among leaders of bigger nations, he said such a scenario is less a priority for Ireland.
“When you’re dealing with asymmetry between US and Ireland, it is far less so,” Tonra said. He suggested that there was little evidence that Varadkar and Trump enjoyed any significant rapport.
There were questions raised following the election of Boris Johnson as UK Prime Minister, after it took nearly a week to arrange a call with Varadkar.
However, the call – when it happened – was described as friendly.
The Department of the Taoiseach did not respond to questions about any plans for a phone call with Trump.
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Would make more sense to talk to Biden.
@Adam Hernes: any chance we can convince Mihal to hold his breath while he waits?
@Adam Hernes: Biden is waiting until Mary Lou is in the seat
@Adam Hernes: Ha Ha….Is that sleepy Joe your talking about?
@Adam Hernes: Joe can tell Martin about his Hairy Legs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DbE2SmV2bs
@Adam Hernes: Hi Michael , Donald here are the pubs open yet ? I was thinking of coming over.
@Adam Hernes: you obviously haven’t seen any of his weird/sick interactions with women and children, a former president of ours been one of them. . .It would make more sense if the cops spoke to Biden.
Ah didums is the little weasel feeling left out. Not as important as he thinks he is .
@Derek Anderson: he wasn’t to one who raised it though, which would suggest Martin isn’t overly concerned.
A slow news day at the journal ha .
I wouldn’t be too upset, it’s Trump.
From all reports he gets fairly nasty when calling other leaders and can be abusive if they don’t agree with him, except of course with leaders he wants to be like…. Like Putin.
@Barry: What accounts are they ,do you have any links?
Hes to busy dealing with Chi Na
And??
I think Trump has more important issues than a phone call to Me-hole Martin or Leo Vanker
Trump has probably been trying to call using the dial code for Finland or Vanuatu on the assumption that’s where Ireland is?
Pinky and the Brain
The United States is not an ally politically at this point in time and maybe even less so with a change of president. The main goal of both parties is jobs and to do that they have both targeted American companies here. Make no mistake they can and will swat us aside to bring companies back
@ChuckE: no they won’t. Those American companies rely on being based in Ireland to access European markets. No doubt about it, when Trump made that claim, the companies and legislators in the US swatted HIM aside.
Lucky Michael. A call from Bozo the clown would be more welcome.
@sean de paore: Well it would be a call from Bozo the clown!
@sean de paore: Biden isnt available at the moment
@sean de paore: Boris !
They should say when he calls Micheál is on the other line can you hold?
He is the Lucky one who wants a call from the Dethol King
Trump just tweeted “Not your Taoiseach”.
Hi! You’ve reached the Corey hotline. $4.95 a minute. Here are some words that rhyme with Corey
Absolutely terrified of Trump otherwise he would do everything to stop American tourists coming here at present, Trump probably hasn’t a blue who he is either.
MM does not have a vote in USA. DT has his own agenda and is fast running out of time! The Poll’s, the Poll’s!
@Celtic Kid: The Primary Model has been wrong 2 times in 108 years and predicted 2016 has gone for Trump despite the virus and the looting
@Hugh McDonagh: yawn
Mehole Martin desperately craving a pat on his head from his master. It’s a pity he doesn’t have the balls to cancel all US flights into the country to prevent a second wave. Ireland is the perfect US puppet state.
Why would you wait for that?
I think he might have a few other issues on the go that are more important than chatting about the “undocumented” Irish and Brexit.
He’s sending a good luck card in your new job instead to Micheal
Pick up the phone and ring him yourself ya clown.
Michael: Hello, is that President Chump?
US President: the name’s Trump, Myhole
Michael: Mehall Mr Stump
US President: Whatever. So I believe you are the new Tea Shock.
Michael: that’s correct
US President: I’m fond of the odd cup of tea myself.
Do you drink Myhole?
Michael: I like the odd Varadkar and coke.
US President: I don’t like Russian drinks myself because of what they Putin them. So I hear the Irish pubs are not opening
for a while unless people buy €9 worth of crisps.
Michael: Well we do our best Mr Frump.
US President: If you want my advice I would send that virus back to China just like we did in the good old USA. Up the Rebublic.
Michael: I’m with you there Mr Thump.
He’s too busy posing with Goya beans.
Wait it will come the most important call ever 2 weeks before polling day, one of Trump’s aids will say to him you need the irish American vote sir so better call there prime minister in Ireland ..to which the Taoiseach should answer the phone say hi Donald can I ring you back have Joe Biden on the other line and never bother his hole doing so
Don’t bother Donald, he won’t be there long
I must say in that pic trump looks like he is doing a
@BriP75:
Or as my grandfather used to say” He has a head on him like a pig having a pIss”
Why would he want subject himself to be disrespected and lied to?
All he has to do is stop flights from the US and Don will be in the phone to him straight away
Well it’ll be is “YOU’RE RIPPING US OFF!! LOOK AT MY GENIUS-IS-NESS!!!! WITCH-HUNT’S!!!!!!”
That’s it, that’s all he’s got.
Poor lad Mícheál! Feel g lonely?
Hullo? Can I schpeak to the yoghurt?
Ring Ring!!! DT:”Meeham? it’s Donald, President of The World, best president ever” MM: “good evening your excellency how can I be of serv-” DT: “yeah never mind with that Meerkat, me and my buddies are flying over on air force one, great plane, really fast, I’m going to be stopping over at Doonbeg, best golf course in all history, for a few rounds. But first we want to loosen up on the driving range. We need a a fuuny looking Irish potato man to fire balls at. It’s gonna be you” MM: what an honor that you s- DT hangs up
What would the expect call be about ?
Somebody must have flushed Donnys phone down the Jacks……
He may regret that.
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