US President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, has called Ireland his favorite “tax scam,” saying it “has got to end.”
Speaking on the All-In podcast aimed at venture capitalists in Washington DC, Lutnick claimed that Ireland’s control over US multinational intellectual property (IP) rights deprives the United States of vital tax revenue.
“That’s gotta end,” Lutnick declared, renewing his criticism of Ireland’s tax policies.
Inflated Surplus Claims
Lutnick inaccurately claimed that Ireland had a $60 billion (€55.4 billion) surplus last year, despite the actual figure being closer to €25 billion ($27 billion).
This included a one-off €14 billion Apple payment, temporarily boosting Ireland’s finances.
Tax and Spending Plans
Lutnick revealed that he and Elon Musk are working on balancing the US budget. He proposed raising $1 trillion through tariffs, while Musk would focus on cutting $1 trillion in spending through the Department of Government Expenditure (DOGE).
Lutnick, a close friend of Donald Trump, is a strong advocate for global tariffs and has frequently criticized Ireland’s tax structure.
Fox News Comments and Future Plans
In a recent Fox News interview following Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s visit to the White House, Lutnick repeated his “tax scam” remarks.
He exaggerated Ireland’s budget surplus even further, claiming it was $75 billion (€71 billion).
Lutnick also revealed Trump’s ambition to waive taxes for Americans earning under $150,000 a year, but only after the US budget is balanced — a goal Lutnick believes can be achieved before Trump’s term ends in 2028.
Lutnick’s History of Criticizing Ireland
Before joining Trump’s administration, Lutnick wrote on his X feed:
“It’s nonsense that Ireland of all places runs a trade surplus at our expense. We don’t make anything here anymore — even great American cars are made in Mexico. When we end this nonsense, America will be a truly great country again. You’ll be shocked.”
Lutnick’s latest comments have reignited tensions over Ireland’s corporate tax policies, which have long been a point of contention in US-Irish economic relations.
