Sinn Féin's St Patrick's Day Boycott Decision Over Trump's Policies Seen as Risky
Sinn Féin recently decided to boycott the St Patrick's Day White House festivities, a move that could potentially harm its long-standing relationships with key US political figures. This could also draw negative attention from the broader Irish diaspora, many of whom support Donald Trump. Despite the risks, the leadership of Sinn Féin appears ready to make this gamble.
Sinn Féin's decision is likely influenced by Trump's past threats to displace Palestinians from Gaza and his recent criticisms of Ukraine. Earlier in the month, Trump proposed a significant change in the US approach to the Middle East by suggesting the US take control of the Gaza Strip and transform it into the region's Riviera. This idea was met with international criticism, including from France, Germany, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who cautioned the US against carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
Trump also recently accused Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky of being a "dictator" who instigated the conflict with Russia. This statement was seen as crossing a line by many, including members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), despite their overall support for the new Trump administration. However, governments had to delicately balance their criticism of Trump's remarks without harming their relationship with the US.
Zelensky had previously responded to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, from which Kyiv was excluded, by stating that the US president was living in a disinformation space controlled by Moscow. However, political parties like Sinn Féin did not have to maintain the same diplomatic tact.
Next month, eight Irish ministers, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, are set to visit the US. Sinn Féin's boycott could be perceived as a popular move considering widespread public disapproval of Trump. However, the announcement of the boycott by Northern Ireland's first minister in Dublin may be seen by her unionist political adversaries as a strategy originating in Dublin, not Belfast.
Attention will now turn to Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who had been interested in the Washington visit. Although she shares her office, she could still decide to make the trip, unless vetoed by the first minister, which is unlikely. If she does decide to go, Northern Ireland will be represented in the White House, but not by the joint ministers.