Trump was speaking about a plan to incentivise companies to invest in America rather than in foreign countries at a campaign rally in Missouri.
US President Donald Trump has once again singled out Ireland for special mention in a speech that mentioned investment by American companies in foreign countries and his desire to bring that investment back to the United States.
Speaking about a new tax bill that looks likely to pass through the Senate later this week, Trump said that he would not “name names” and then, according to the Irish Times, proceeded to single out Ireland as a country that has benefitted from US foreign investment in recent times.
“For too long our tax code has incentivised companies to leave our country in search of lower tax rates,” Trump said.
“It happens – many, many companies. They’re going to Ireland. They’re going all over. They’re going all over Asia but they’re stopping because they now want to take advantage of what’s happening and what we’re about to pass hopefully,” he said.
The tax bill advocated by Trump has attracted criticism for the benefits it is likely to have for the wealthy in the US, but the president denied that this is the case.
“This is going to cost me a fortune, this thing, believe me,” Trump said.
“This is not good for me. Me, it’s not so… I have some very wealthy friends. Not so happy with me, but that’s OK. You know, I keep hearing (US Senator Chuck) Schumer: ‘This is for the wealthy.’ Well, if it is, my friends don’t know about it.”
A final vote on the $1.5 billion tax package, which is set to bring sweeping reform to the tax system and met with widespread opposition from the Democratic Party, is set to take place later this week.
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