‘A minefield’: taoiseach prepares for St Patrick’s Day visit to Washington

<p>Traditionally jovial affair poses potential debacle for Irish leader at odds with US over foreign policy, tax and immigration</p><p>For <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/ireland">Ireland</a>’s leaders, it has long been the highlight of the political calendar: a love-fest in Washington with hosts who sport shamrocks and toast <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/st-patricks-day">Saint Patrick</a>.</p><p>Irish delegations are traditionally received on Capitol Hill and at the White House in a blaze of goodwill and backslapping that has them wishing every day was 17 March.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/13/taoiseach-st-patricks-day-visit-washington-trump">Continue reading...</a>