Donald Trump’s former chief of staff has said Ireland should have struck a trade deal with the White House, which no longer sees the European Union as a “viable, long-term, trustworthy” trading partner, writes Sarah McGuinness.

In an interview with the Irish Daily Mail, Mick Mulvaney shone a light on deep frustrations in the US with the EU, citing what the Republican Party views as a lack of direction and silos within the bloc.

Mr Mulvaney, who was Trump’s right-hand man during his first term between 2016 and 2020, said the party is “sick and tired” of dealing with the EU on trade.

His comments come as Europe is facing into a “crucial” six-week period of negotiations with the US, as Trump threatens to reignite his trade war.

On Friday, the US President claimed talks with the EU were “going nowhere” and said he was recommending activating a 50% tariff rate on June 1.

He rowed back on the decision on Monday, reinstating the July 9 deadline set on the back of a call with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen.

The move was welcomed by officials across Europe, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin who praised the EU for “engaging sensibly” with the US.

But Mr Mulvaney said: “I’m not sure that Mr Trump and other members of the US Government believe that, in the long run, Europe is a viable, long-term, trustworthy partner.”

He recalled travelling to the UK in preparation for his appointment as US special envoy to the North of Ireland in February 2020.

At that time, he asked a UK government official to urge Italy to halt flights from China to curb the global spread of Covid-19 as a “favour” to the US.

“The answer the guy gave me was: ‘That’s an Italian decision, not a European decision’,” Mr Mulvaney said.

“And this is what so frustrates us Americans about you Europeans – when we want you to work together, you tell us you must work individually.

“When we want you to work individually – like on trade – you tell us you must work together, and it’s so damn frustrating.

“We’re just sick and tired dealing with it. And that UK official agreed with me.

“He said that was a factor in the UK leaving the EU. It is difficult to do business with Europe,” he added.

]Mr Mulvaney, who had been speaking at the Global Economic Summit in Killarney, said: “We wouldn’t see the Irish as being European, except you guys really want to be European.”

Asked if Mr Trump would have been receptive to Ireland breaking away from the EU to strike its own deal with the US administration, Mr Mulvaney replied: “Absolutely.”

However, he acknowledged that such a move could never have happened, given the Irish Government’s position on the EU.

While the EU remains locked in negotiations with the US, the UK government is finalising the trade deal between British prime minister Keir Starmer and Mr Trump.

Mr Mulvaney also discussed what he described as Mr Trump’s “tri-polar” view of the world, whereby the US, Russia and China are the most important economic powers.

“A lot of people are probably curious as to why [Mr Trump] is being what some perceive as nice to Russia.

“If there is ever a situation whereby it is two against one, he wants to be on the side with two.

“I’ve heard his tactic being described as a ‘reverse Nixon’.

“Nixon went to China in the 1970s, in order to drive a wedge between China and Russia to the detriment of the Soviet Union.

“I think Trump is now trying to figure out a way to improve the US’s relationship with Russia in order to drive a wedge between Russia and China to the detriment of China.

“I can’t say that for certain, but I think that bears discussion.”

Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Mick Mulvaney