Sinn Féin leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill will boycott the 2024 White House St. Patrick’s Day ceremony, marking the first such protest since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The decision directly challenges President Trump’s controversial proposal to displace 2 million Palestinians from Gaza for U.S.-led redevelopment plans.
McDonald condemned the policy as “catastrophically wrong” and declared solidarity with Palestinians facing mass expulsion. Her statement emphasized Ireland’s historical empathy for displaced communities, drawing parallels to British colonial rule. O’Neill reinforced the stance, framing it as
“standing on the side of humanity”amid global criticism of Trump’s alignment with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The White House event traditionally symbolizes U.S.-Irish diplomatic ties through shamrock exchanges. Key historical moments include:
- 1950s: First shamrock gift to President Truman
- 1995: Bill Clinton’s invitation to Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams
- 2016: Security barring Adams over disputed issues
Analysts note Sinn Féin’s growing influence—leading Northern Ireland’s Assembly and securing 36% of Ireland’s 2020 parliamentary seats—gives weight to this protest. However, their IRA-linked past continues complicating coalition prospects in Dublin.
Global reactions remain divided. While Arab nations universally reject Trump’s “Middle Eastern Riviera” vision, Netanyahu praises its economic potential. European leaders warn the plan jeopardizes ceasefire negotiations and violates international law.
This boycott underscores Sinn Féin’s strategy to leverage its U.S. visibility among Irish diaspora voters while distancing from policies conflicting with its anti-colonial ethos. With St. Patrick’s Day ceremonies approaching, the absence of Sinn Féin’s leadership signals deepening fractures in transatlantic diplomatic traditions.