Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald announced that the party would not attend traditional St Patrick’s Day events in Washington DC. She cited the ongoing situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including Israeli attacks, as the reason. The party previously stayed away from similar events last year.

The Irish Times reported that US Ambassador Edward Walsh stated no members of Sinn Féin have been invited to the White House events and none are expected to be invited. He added that invitations have not been extended nor finalised.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) indicated on February 8 that senior figures would travel to Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day events, despite no invitations having been issued at that time according to the ambassador.

DUP Education Minister Paul Givan described Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill's announcement about not attending the events as embarrassing, following confirmation from the US embassy that the party was not invited.