Donald Trump declares March as Irish-American Heritage Month
James Cox
US president Donald Trump has signed a proclamation declaring March 'Irish-American Heritage Month'.
It calls on all Americans to celebrate the contribution of Irish-Americans with "ceremonies, activities and programmes".
Designating March Irish-American Heritage Month is regularly done by US presidents.
While signing the proclamation last night, he called Irish-Americans "great people".
"They are great people... and they voted for me in heavy numbers so I like them even more.
"You have to like them, you're not supposed to but you have to like them. So for the Irish-American people proclamation."
The ceremonial event comes ahead of Mr Trump's St Patrick's Day meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
The Taoiseach has said he will tell Mr Trump that tariffs could cause damage to a "small open economy" like Ireland when the two meet in Washington DC.
He has also promised to reiterate Ireland's support for Gaza and Ukraine.
In messages sent to the Taoiseach's Office, seen by BreakingNews.ie after a freedom of information request, members of the public urged Mr Martin to sit out the Washington DC visit.
One email urged Mr Martin to "stand strong taoiseach" and "don't bow down to a dictator, bully and felon".
The message, sent on Monday, January 27th, read: "I am asking you taoiseach to not attend the White house this year on St Patrick's Day. And for no other member of the government to attend. The reason is that it is showing that you agree and side with Trump [sic] and his views.
"This person Trump is a bully and is hurting many people in his country and other places. I am 55 years old and have watched many issues from around the world happen and yet this issue I feel is one that I need you to solve by not attending.
"If you don't attend and Trump attacks us as a country with tariffs then the world will see what kind of a weak person he is. Stand strong taoiseach and don't bow down to a dictator, bully and felon."