Ireland's opposition party to boycott St. Patrick's Day events in US to protest Trump's stance on Gaza

Sinn Fein, Ireland’s main opposition party, announced Friday that it will boycott this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the White House in protest of US President Donald Trump’s position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, Anadolu news agency reported.

Michelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s First Minister and Sinn Fein’s most senior representative at Stormont, will not travel to Washington, DC, for the annual celebrations, breaking with tradition.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said in a video statement that she has watched Trump’s comments on Gaza with “growing concern” and listened in “horror” to calls for the “mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from their homes and the permanent seizure of Palestinian lands.”

While acknowledging the US as a “valued friend” of Ireland, with strong economic ties and an important role in the Northern Ireland peace process, McDonald insisted the current administration’s stance on Palestine is “catastrophically wrong.”

“I have made a decision not to attend events in the White House this year as a principled stance against the call for the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza,” she said.

“The only route to peace and security is a permanent ceasefire followed by a negotiated settlement that guarantees peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis through a just and sustainable two-state solution—and that should be the position of the US.”

McDonald also urged Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin to use the St. Patrick’s Day visit as an opportunity to “reflect the views of the Irish people” and advocate for Palestine in line with international law.

Trump’s Controversial Gaza Comments

Sinn Fein’s boycott follows controversial remarks by President Trump earlier this month, in which he suggested the US could “take over” and “own” Gaza while resettling its Palestinian population elsewhere.

During a joint appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump proposed that Israel could hand over Gaza to US control. He later stated that the two million displaced Palestinians would be resettled in neighbouring countries under his plan, with no right of return.

Trump’s comments cannot be ignored

First Minister Michelle O’Neill, for her part, said Trump’s comments on the “forced expulsion” of Palestinians cannot be ignored.

“In the future, when our children and grandchildren ask us what we did while the Palestinian people endured unimaginable suffering, I will say I stood firmly on the side of humanity,” she said.

She confirmed she had spoken with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly about her decision and respected that it was “absolutely her call” whether to attend or not.

“For me, this is about taking a principled stand. This is about a moment in time, a moment in history when we will all reflect on what we did, and this is an opportunity to take a stand for the Palestinian people.”

O’Neill emphasised that she would continue engaging with senior US figures to promote “peace and economic growth.”

Meanwhile, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson criticised Sinn Fein’s boycott, calling it “short-sighted and counterproductive.”

He confirmed that the DUP would attend the celebrations, continuing the long-standing practice of Northern Ireland’s first and deputy first ministers making the trip when power-sharing is functioning.

Israel’s genocidal war has killed at least 48,300 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

READ: Irish president faces backlash over speech welcoming Gaza ceasefire