Sinn Féin's leaders have announced their decision to skip the traditional St. Patrick's Day event at the White House in protest against President Donald Trump's stance on the Gaza Peninsula. The party's leader, Mary Lou McDonald, criticized the Trump administration's position on Gaza, calling it 'catastrophically' wrong and expressing concerns about the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.
President Trump's proposal to remove about 2 million Palestinians from Gaza for the purpose of U.S. ownership and redevelopment has been met with widespread rejection from Palestinians, Arab countries, and other world leaders. This controversial idea has also raised doubts about the existing ceasefire in the region.
McDonald's decision to boycott the White House event was supported by Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who emphasized standing 'on the side of humanity' in this matter.
Sinn Féin, a left-of-center party with historical ties to the Irish Republican Army, has been a significant player in Irish politics despite being excluded from coalition governments due to its past associations. The party's involvement in the 1998 Good Friday peace accord has given it visibility in the U.S., where it has a strong presence among the Irish diaspora.
The White House St. Patrick's Day event, which typically involves the Irish prime minister presenting shamrocks to the U.S. president, has been a longstanding tradition. However, Sinn Féin's leaders have decided to break this tradition this year in response to the ongoing Gaza dispute.
This marks the first time since the peace agreement that Sinn Féin leaders will not be attending the St. Patrick's Day events in Washington. In 2016, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams faced a security concern that prevented him from entering the White House event, while Mary Lou McDonald, then deputy leader, was allowed to attend.
