"Last year when we did this breakfast, Colin said you have to wear socks to honour the Taoiseach. So I wore some shamrock socks. I have a different pair of shamrock socks here today. Now I did that knowing that when we met the president later with the Taoiseach in the Oval Office, I'd be sitting down, he would see my socks and he would bust my chops about the fact that I was not wearing boring black socks but had this bright white shamrock socks."
"Ireland is an important economic and trading partner. About 375,000 US jobs depend on Ireland in one form or another. But I actually think that understates the cultural friendship between the United States and Ireland. So many of the greatest Americans were people who came from Ireland or their families came from Ireland."
Vice President JD Vance hosted Taoiseach Micheal Martin and his wife Mary for a St Patrick's Day breakfast in Washington DC, the first official function before an Oval Office meeting with President Trump. Vance wore shamrock socks as a tribute to the Taoiseach, continuing a tradition from the previous year encouraged by his friend Colin. He explained his choice was intentional, anticipating the President would notice and tease him about wearing colorful socks instead of standard black ones. Stripe founder Patrick Collison attended the breakfast. Vance emphasized Ireland's importance as an economic and trading partner, noting 375,000 US jobs depend on Ireland, while highlighting the deep cultural and historical ties between the nations.
Read at Irish Independent
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