Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been greeted by US President Donald Trump at the White House this morning, Wednesday, March 12.
It was a quick yet seemingly cordial interaction between the two leaders at the White House on Wednesday morning.
The two smiled and waved to the cameras.
One reporter asked Trump for his reaction to the latest inflation numbers in the US, the President responded: "Very good news."
It is the second engagement of the day for the Taoiseach who attended breakfast at the US Naval Observatory, the official residence of the US Vice President JD Vance, earlier this morning.
After greeting the Taoiseach at the White House, Trump will host him for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. The meeting, which is open to the White House Press Pool, is scheduled to last an hour.
In a statement ahead of his visit, the Taoiseach said he is "delighted" to be meeting with Trump and to "have an opportunity to reflect with him on the bilateral relationship."
He said: "President Trump knows Ireland well, having visited on a number of occasions and I know that his beautiful golf club in Doonbeg is very close to his heart.
"I will update him on the situation in Northern Ireland and express our deep appreciation to the US for their continued support for peace and reconciliation on our island."
He added: “My visit to the US comes at a moment of great peril for the world. The US remains an indispensable partner and global actor.
"I look forward to discussing with President Trump how Ireland, together with our EU partners, can work with him and his administration to end conflict and to secure peace, whether in the Middle East or Ukraine.”
Speaking to reporters in Texas on Monday, the Taoiseach admitted: "There will be a to-and-fro, no doubt, as there has been every year on various issues.
"But we’ll do it in a good manner and in a good way."
Later on Wednesday, the two leaders will attend the Friends of Ireland Luncheon, which is being hosted by US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a staunch Trump ally.
Later, the St. Patrick's Day reception, which typically features the Taoiseach presenting the President with a bowl of shamrock, is scheduled for 5 pm in the East Room of the White House.
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