US President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach of Ireland Micheál Martin in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on March 17, 2026. The Irish prime minister arrived in the United States March 13 for an annual St Patrick’s Day trip under pressure to talk tough to US President Donald Trump amid the Iran war. Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 every year.
Irish leaders traditionally visit the White House and gift the president with shamrocks.
Ireland’s prime minister met with Donald Trump on Tuesday, where they discussed the war with Iran.
The White House typically marks St. Patrick’s Day with a visit from Irish officials and the exchange of a shamrock.
This year, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office amid the US war with Iran.
Photos show how St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated at the White House through the years.
As President John F. Kennedy was America’s first Irish-Catholic president, St. Patrick’s Day held special meaning for him.
(Original Caption) St. Patrick’s Day At The White House. Washington: President Kennedy starts off St. Patrick’s Day in appropriate fashion today by accepting a basket of Shamrocks from Irish Ambassador Thomas J. Kiernan. The envoy also presented him with the Kennedy coat of arms and a family tree showing his Irish ancestry. March 17, 1961 Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images
In 1952, Ireland’s ambassador to the US, John Hearne, sent President Harry Truman a box of shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day, and a tradition was born.
In 1961, Irish Ambassador Thomas J. Kiernan presented Kennedy with a basket of shamrocks and the Kennedy coat of arms with a family tree showing his Irish ancestry.
Irish Ambassador William Patrick Fay pinned a cluster of shamrocks to President Richard Nixon’s lapel in 1969.
Irish Ambassador William Patrick Fay pins a cluster of shamrocks on President Nixon’s lapel on March 17, 1969 during a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the White House in Washington. The President is holding a foot-high Waterford crystal vase, bearing a White House etching, which also was presented to the Nixon’s from the Irish visitors. AP
The Irish delegation also gifted him with a foot-high Waterford crystal vase engraved with a White House etching.
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter received a Waterford crystal vase from Irish foreign minister Garret FitzGerald.
President Jimmy Carter, left, accepts a King David Waterford cut glass vase from Irish Foreign Minister Dr. Garret FitzGerald at the White House in Washington, D.C, March 16, 1977. FitzGerald called on Carter to make the traditional presentation of St. Patrick’s Day gifts. Harvey Georges/AP
FitzGerald went on to serve as Taoiseach, the prime minister of Ireland, from 1981 to 1982 and from 1982 to 1987.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan gave FitzGerald a hat embroidered with the words “Very Important Irishman.”
U.S. President Ronald Reagan accepts a bouguet of shamrocks from Irish Prime Minister Garret Fitzgerald as he presents the Prime Minister a hat during a luncheon at the White House, Friday, March 16, 1984 in Washington. Reagan welcomed Fitzgerald for talks and lunch at the White House on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day. Their meeting was expected to center on things Irish, with Reagan looking back to his ancestry in the Emerald Isle and planning his visit there in early June. Scott Stewart/AP
Reagan also accepted the traditional shamrock gift.
Reagan was visited by a man dressed as a leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day in 1986.
UNITED STATES – MARCH 01: Leprechaun presents President Reagan with personalized shamrock as OMB Director Miller guffaws, during St. Patrick’s Day fete at White House. Diana Walker/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images
The leprechaun presented Reagan with a personalized shamrock.
President George H.W. Bush received a bowl of shamrocks from deputy prime minister of Ireland Brian Lenihan in 1990.
President George Bush is presented a bowl of shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day in the White House Rose Garden in Washington from Brian Lenihan, deputy prime minister of Ireland, March 16, 1990. Doug Mills/AP
The reception took place in the White House Rose Garden.
First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton wore a green dress for St. Patrick’s Day in 1995.
President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton pose with Irish Prime Minister John Bruton and his wife Finola Bruton in the Grand Foyer at the White House in Washington, March 17, 1995 during a St. Patrick’s Day reception. Greg Gibson/AP
President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton posed with Irish Prime Minister John Bruton and his wife, Finola Bruton, in the Grand Foyer of the White House.
President Bill Clinton received a bowl of shamrocks from Prime Minister John Bruton in 1996.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 15: US President Bill Clinton (R) admires a shammrock, a traditional St. Patrick’s Day gift, given to him by Irish Prime Minister John Bruton (L) at the White House in Washington DC 15 March. Clinton and Bruton were expected to discuss methods to preserve Irish peace during a meeting, after it has been threatened by a recent wave of Irish Republican Army terrorism. RICHARD ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
The two men also wore shamrock lapels.
In 2001, President George W. Bush accepted the traditional gift in the Roosevelt Room.
Republic of Ireland’s Prime Minister Bertie Ahern presenting President George W. Bush (C) and First Lady Laura Bush (R) w. bushel of shamrocks at traditional shamrock presentation in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.The exchange of shamrocks is traditionally used to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Mai/Mai/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images
First lady Laura Bush wore a green jacket in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
Bush, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi were serenaded by the United States Air Force Reserve Pipe Band in 2007.
WASHINGTON – MARCH 15: (L to R) Irish Foregin Minister Dermot Ahern, U.S. President George W. Bush, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) walk down the steps on the east side of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol March 15, 2007 in Washington, DC. Bush will host PM Ahern MArch 16 at the White House for the traditional “Shamrock Ceremony” for the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The group walked down the steps of the House of Representatives on their way to the White House for the shamrock ceremony.
Michelle Obama wore a green Michael Kors dress to the White House St. Patrick’s Day reception in 2011.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s wife Fionnuala Kenny (L) and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (R) clap as they stand onstage during a St. Patrick’s Day reception at the White House in Washington, March 17, 2011. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Obama stood onstage with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s wife, Fionnuala Kenny.
In 2012, the White House fountain on the South Lawn was dyed green for the occasion.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 17: (AFP OUT) Green water flows in the fountain on the South Lawn of the White House in celebration of St. Patrick’s day on March 17, 2012 in Washington, DC. Next week, U.S. President Barack Obama visited a bar today. Obama and Vice President Biden will meet the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and attend a St. Patrick’s Day lunch at the Capitol. Joshua Roberts/Getty Images
President Obama also visited a bar and attended a St. Patrick’s Day lunch at the Capitol.
First lady Melania Trump wore a green animal-print sheath dress designed by Brandon Maxwell to greet the prime minister of Ireland in 2018.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 15: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greett Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Ireland at the White House on March 15, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Alex Edelman-Pool/Getty Images
She paired the dress with Christian Louboutin snakeskin heels.
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar wore shamrock lapels on St. Patrick’s Day in 2018.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 15: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Donald J. Trump (R) meets with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland at The White House March 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Taoiseach is visiting as part of the traditional St Patrick’s Day celebrations and when asked if he would visit Ireland Trump says, “I would love to visit Ireland soon, I will come, I love it, I have property there, I will go.” Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images
When asked if he would visit Ireland, Trump said, “I would love to visit Ireland soon, I will come, I love it, I have property there, I will go.”
President Joe Biden continued Obama’s tradition of dyeing the fountain green for his first St. Patrick’s Day in the White House.
Marine One, carrying US President Joe Biden, flies over the fountain,dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day on the South Lawn of the White House, as he arrives on March 17, 2021. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
St. Patrick’s Day had special significance since Biden was the first Irish Catholic president since Kennedy. He is known for often quoting Irish poets in his speeches.
In 2021, Biden held a virtual meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, where he accepted the traditional shamrock from afar.
US President Joe Biden hosts Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin (L on screen) during a virtual bilateral meeting for St. Patrick’s Day at the White House in Washington, DC, on March 17, 2021. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Like many of his predecessors, Biden wore a green tie and shamrock lapel.
Vice President Kamala Harris also held a virtual meeting with Martin.
The meeting went virtual again in 2022 after Martin tested positive for COVID-19.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 17: U.S. President Joe Biden meets virtually with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office of the White House March 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. St. Patrick’s Day events with Prime Minister Martin are being held virtually after it was announced last night that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Win McNamee/Getty Images
The Taoiseach was supposed to meet with Biden in person in the Oval Office and attend the yearly St. Patrick’s Day Friends of Ireland lunch hosted by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill.
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was able to meet with Biden in person on St. Patrick’s Day in 2023.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 17: U.S. President Joe Biden and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speak to one another in the Oval Office of the White House on March 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Biden and Prime Minister Varadkar will take part in a series of St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations at the White House and the U.S. Capitol. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Former One Direction member Niall Horan, who is Irish, performed at the Shamrock presentation.
During Trump’s second non-consecutive term, Martin visited the White House amid a brewing trade war with the European Union.
Washington, DC – March 12 : President Donald J Trump meets with Ireland’s Prime Minister Michael Martin in the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
During their Oval Office meeting, Trump said that Ireland “took our pharmaceutical companies” and that the European Union “was set up in order to take advantage of the United States.” Martin countered Trump, saying that the trade relationship between the two countries is “a two-way street.”
The day after Martin’s visit, the EU announced tariffs of its own on more than $28 billion worth of US goods. In response, Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European alcohol and called the European Union “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States” in a Truth Social post.
Martin visited the White House for St. Patrick’s Day in 2026 amid the US war with Iran.
US President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach of Ireland Micheál Martin in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on March 17, 2026. The Irish prime minister arrived in the United States March 13 for an annual St Patrick’s Day trip under pressure to talk tough to US President Donald Trump amid the Iran war. Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images
After having breakfast at the vice president’s residence, Martin met with Trump in the Oval Office, where the two leaders discussed the ongoing war with Iran.
When asked about rising prices in Ireland due to the US war with Iran, Trump said that he thinks the people of Ireland are “very happy that I’m getting rid of a nuclear power, a nuclear terrorist,” and that prices would “drop like a rock” when the war concluded.
Martin also addressed immigration, saying that while “no one is in favor of illegal migration,” Ireland’s population is growing “in a very positive way” because of new workers moving there, making the country’s economy “more robust.”
