President Trump describes the Northern Ireland border as “interesting” in meeting with Irish Taoiseach.
US President Donald Trump has told Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar that he intends to visit his property in Ireland in the future, branding the Irish as a “truly wonderful people.”
“I will, I love it. I have property there that I never get to visit,” he said when questioned on whether he would visit Ireland during a meeting in front of the press in the Oval Office.
“I look forward to being there.”
Read more: Leo Varadkar to invite Trump to Ireland. Should the Irish welcome him? (POLL)
President Trump says he may well visit Ireland next year pic.twitter.com/0OXkgbDKTh
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) March 15, 2018
The President also commented on the Northern Ireland border, the consideration of which is causing delays in the Brexit negotiations at the European Union.
US President Donald Trump says he hopes to visit Ireland pic.twitter.com/oQfgWVq66p
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 15, 2018
"That's an interesting border also,” Trump commented.
“We have two interesting borders. One happens to be where you [Varadkar] are, right? It's going to be interesting to see what happens.”
When asked if he would visit the border when he comes to Ireland, @realDonaldTrump said: "That's an interesting border." pic.twitter.com/Ml4dvLOnVa
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 15, 2018
Trump welcomed the Taoiseach by commenting on the strong Irish-American relationship, congratulating Varadkar on being a “very popular” Taoiseach.
“It’s my honor to have the very popular Irish Taoiseach with us,” he said.
“The relationship [between the two countries] is outstanding and only getting better.”
Varadkar joked with Trump that last time he was working in Washington D.C. as a congressional intern, he was not allowed in the Oval Office.
Leo asks if NY parade on passes Trump Tower pic.twitter.com/J4SwikEV9Y
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) March 15, 2018
“But now we do,” President Trump responded. “You’ve made great progress.”
Trump held a 40-minute bilateral meeting with Varadkar in which the Taoiseach said the undocumented Irish in the US was raised and that the US President was eager to find a solution. He also said that Trump feels the US is treated unfairly by Europe.
Later on Thursday afternoon, the traditional annual shamrock ceremony will take place in the White House and the Taoiseach will attend a Friends of Ireland dinner hosted by Speaker Paul Ryan.
On Friday morning, Varadkar will have a private breakfast with Vice President Mike Pence. The breakfast is normally open to the media but the Taoiseach says he hopes they will now be able to have a frank discussion without the press present. He has stated his intention to address LGBT rights with the conservative VP as Ireland's first openly gay leader.
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