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Trump Participates in the Friends of Ireland Luncheon, Mar. 12, 2025

March 12, 2025 · The White House · 0:18:09

Embedded from the source channel — never re-uploaded. Watch on YouTube

What happened

President Donald Trump participated in the Friends of Ireland luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on Mar. 12, 2025, carried on the White House channel. Speaker Mike Johnson opened the program by recounting the Irish mark on American history: Commodore John Barry, the Irishman who received the first commission issued by the Continental Congress and is considered the father of the American Navy; the three Irish-born signers of the Declaration of Independence; James Hoban of County Kilkenny, who designed the White House; and the 23 of the 45 men who had served as President with Irish heritage, as the Speaker stated them.

Johnson recalled that the Friends of Ireland tradition began in 1981 with Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Daniel Moynihan, and Speaker Tip O’Neill to celebrate shared heritage, deepen ties between the two nations, and promote peace and reconciliation, before introducing the President as the head of state guest of the luncheon.

Why it matters

The luncheon is the congressional half of the annual Ireland observance, pairing the President with the Speaker and the Taoiseach’s delegation in the tradition founded in 1981 - the diplomatic record of the visit alongside the White House Shamrock ceremony the same day.

Sources: The White House, “President Trump Participates in the Friends of Ireland Luncheon” (YouTube, 2025-03-12) - official description and broadcast transcript as aired.