Irish American Heritage Month proclaimed (a bit later than usual)

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring March 2025 as Irish American Heritage Month on Thursday afternoon, March 6 - markedly later in the month than previous Presidents.

In the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon, Trump signed a number of Executive Orders, as well as the proclamations for Women's History Month and Irish American Heritage Month.

Lindsey Halligan presented Trump with the Irish American Heritage Month proclamation, telling the President that it was a "proclamation proclaiming March 2025 as Irish American Heritage month in honor of, to commemorate our amazing friendship between America and Ireland and to just honor all of the Irish Americans and I'm a little bit biased, because I am American and Irish."

Trump, signing the proclamation, said: "They're great people, great people."

Halligan added: "St. Patrick's Day is coming up as well."

While signing, Trump paused to claim: "And they voted for me in heavy numbers, so I like them even more.

"You have to like it, you know, you're not supposed to, but you have to like that."

Holding up the signed document, Trump said: "So for the Irish American people, proclamation."

You can watch Trump sign the Irish American Heritage Month 2025 proclamation here:

While there is no set date for the proclamation to be signed, the signing of this year's Irish American Heritage Month proclamation came later into March than during recent previous administrations.

The inaugural Irish American Heritage Month proclamation was signed on March 12, 1991, by President George HW Bush. 

During their tenures in the White House, Presidents Biden, Trump (in his first term), and Obama all signed it by March 2.

Of the eight Irish American Heritage Month proclamations President George W Bush signed, all were signed by March 2 except for two - March 5, 2004, and March 4, 2005.

Aside from the inaugural proclamation, the latest in March the proclamation was ever signed was in 1994 when President Bill Clinton signed it on March 8.

US President Donald Trump receives the traditional bowl of shamrock from then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny in 2017.

Trump signed this year's Irish American Heritage Month proclamation about a week before Irish politicians, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, will descend on Washington, DC for St. Patrick's Day engagements.

After weeks of speculation, the Taoiseach confirmed last week that he received an invitation to meet with Trump in the Oval Office for St. Patrick's Day.

Meanwhile, there have been calls for politicians across the island of Ireland to boycott the annual events in Washington, DC due to the US response in Gaza. Similar boycott calls were made last year during the Biden administration.

The calls for a boycott intensified after US President Donald Trump said he would like to see the people of Gaza "resettled" in other countries and that the "US will take over Gaza."

The SDLP in Northern Ireland and People Before Profit in Ireland have both announced that they would not be attending, as did Sinn Féin.

You can read President Trump's Proclamation for Irish American Heritage Month, 2025 here:

Irish Americans have played a crucial role in our great American story — courageously overcoming adversity and hardship to embolden our culture, enliven our spirit, and fortify our way of life. This Irish-American Heritage Month, we commemorate the special bond of friendship between the United States and Ireland — and we honor the extraordinary contributions of Irish-American citizens past and present.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of Irish immigrants departed the rolling countryside of the Emerald Isle for the bustling cities of Boston, Chicago, and New York — leaving behind their homeland and embarking on a daring journey across the Atlantic in hopes of a new frontier of opportunity and a better future for their families. Since then, Irish Americans have fought for our freedom on the battlefield, served in our halls of government, and pioneered legendary businesses ‑- leaving a lasting mark on their communities and our national identity.

The United States and Ireland also enjoy a long friendship strengthened by economic ties, a shared commitment to democracy, and the timeless values of faith, family, and freedom. As my Administration works to correct trade imbalances with the European Union, our historic relationship with Ireland presents an opportunity to advance fairer trade policies and stronger investment opportunities that benefit both nations.

To this day, Irish Americans are known as some of the toughest, most driven, and most devoted people on the face of the Earth. Their faith in God, love of family, and indelible commitment to our national promise continue to inspire citizens all across our country. This Irish-American Heritage Month, we salute the undying resilience and resolve of the Irish-American community, pay tribute to their tremendous achievements, and pledge to forge a future that strengthens our shared values, deepens our traditions, and restores America as one glorious Nation under God.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2025 as Irish-American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to celebrate the achievements of Irish Americans and their contributions to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

DONALD J. TRUMP