Ireland's housing crisis is because country is doing 'so well', says Trump 

Donald Trump has said that Ireland has a housing crisis because the country is doing “so well”.

During a meeting in the Oval Office with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the US President was asked by reporters about how Ireland would build thousands more homes a year.

“You know why they have a housing crisis? Because they’re doing so well, they can’t produce houses fast enough. That’s a good problem, not a bad problem.” 

Mr Martin interjected to say that was a “good answer”.

Mr Trump, gesturing to Mr Martin, added: “I know this gentleman, he’ll get it solved.”

Mr Trump said it is a “great honour” to have the Taoiseach at the Oval Office.

Speaking in front of reporters, Mr Trump said: “We have tremendous business relationships in Ireland, and that will only get stronger.

“The relationship we have, personally in every other way is very, very strong and very, very good. So, I just want to welcome you to Washington DC and to our country and thank you very much.” 

Mr Martin thanked the president for his hospitality and said it was a “great honour” to be in Washington DC to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.

“I commend you on the work that your doing, particularly when it comes to peace.”

Asked by reporters if Ireland should be worried about its trade surplus with the US, Mr Trump said: “We (the US) do have a massive deficit with Ireland because Ireland was very smart. 

“They took our pharmaceutical companies away from presidents that didn’t know what they were doing – and you know, it’s too bad that happened.” 

He added: “The Irish are smart, smart people and you took our pharmaceutical companies – and other companies – but you know, through taxation, proper taxation, they made it very, very good for companies to move up there.” 

Mr Trump said previous presidents had “lost big segments” of the US economy, adding that the “European Union treats us very badly” as he referenced a recent ruling against multinational tech firm Apple.

“They have not been fair. They sue our companies and win massive amounts of money. They sued Apple, won 17 billion US dollars and they use that for other reasons, I guess, to run the European Union.

“So I’m not knocking it. They’re doing what they should be doing, perhaps for the European Union, but it does create ill will – and as you know, we’re going to be doing reciprocal tariffs so whatever they charge us with, we’re charging them. Nobody can complain about that.” 

Mr Trump also told reporters that Micheál Martin did not “look nervous” about the issue during their meeting.