Not even a natural disaster could stop Simon Harris from getting his moment in the White House.
An invitation from the US President is significant, but questions must be asked as to what exactly Ireland has to gain from a 48-hour trip to the US for a scaled-back swansong of an outgoing president?
As wall-to-wall coverage of Hurricane Milton played on US news channels, the Taoiseach touched down in Washington to attend a reduced itinerary of events.
Joe Biden had contacted Harris on Monday evening to cancel a reception during which both men were due to make speeches marking 100 years of diplomatic relations, because of the “grave threat” posed by the hurricane and the optics of having a large-scale celebration on the White House lawn right as the storm was due to land.
When the US trip was first announced last month, issue was taken with an editorial which asked: “Will visiting a lame duck president for a few pictures really be value for the Irish taxpayer’s money?”
It was privately stressed that a reception of 300 people would also be held in the Rose Garden, providing an opportunity for face-face-meetings with influential Irish Americans and Democrats.
On Wednesday, when Harris was asked if the the trip represented value for Irish taxpayers’ money given the changes to what was an already short trip, a rather different view was provided.
“I’m not really sure what’s been scaled back other than the canapes. So I mean, other than the reception in the Rose Garden, every substantive part of the engagement is taking place.Â
Interestingly, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who as Taoiseach was twice prevented from getting his Oval Office moment due to covid, was also invited to the Washington events this week, but declined, a spokesperson citing the volume of work at home.
In the Dáil on Tuesday, just hours before Harris was due to take off, Mick Barry rather cheekily tried to call a vote on the Taoiseach’s visit.
“The Taoiseach should not be celebrating the presidency of a man who is arming and financing a genocide against the Palestinian people. There should be no farewell drinks for President Biden, and no place at Shannon Airport for US planes bringing arms to Israel,” he said.
In March then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also came under pressure not to travel given the US stance in relation to Israel.
“Like a gnat on a windshield,” was how one White House reporter described the impact any lobbying from the Irish head of State might have on President Biden, who at the time held significantly more clout as a politician who was still campaigning for a second term in office.
When pressed five times on whether he would use the Oval Office opportunity to call on the US to stop arming Israel, Harris stated that it is up to every country to decide what they wish to do.
“It’s not for me to set the foreign policy of any other country,” he said before pointing out that Ireland considers the US to be a friend and honesty between friends is important.
Harris will come home with an Oval Office picture to hang on the wall, but what will the visit have achieved?
