Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is calling on Ireland’s prime minister and Irish-American members of Congress to boycott President Trump’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the White House this year.
O’Malley in a video accompanying the plea slams Trump for his immigration policies, calling his push to boycott the March 16 holiday a #NoShamrocks petition.
“No shamrocks please for the immigrant-hating Mr. Trump. No tri-color flag pins for white supremacists with Irish surnames such as Stephen Bannon,” the petition states, referring to the White House chief strategist.
“Let’s show Trump how many Irish Americans and fellow Americans oppose his policies. Make your Irish ancestors smile,” the petition adds, with O’Malley echoing some of the language in his video.
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While the the Irish prime minister has long had a standing invitation to meet with the president at the White House on St. Patrick’s day, the petition urges Ireland’s Enda Kenny to boycott a meeting with Trump. The White House has not yet released any details about events surrounding the holiday.
Some 1,000 people had signed the petition as of Tuesday, with signatures being collected until March 15. The petition states it will be delivered to Irish-American lawmakers and the Irish Embassy in Washington.
O’Malley, who ran an unsuccessful bid for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, criticized Trump for his immigration rhetoric during his party’s own primary debates.
O’Malley called Trump an “immigrant-bashing carnival barker” during a question on immigration reform at one debate.