Varadkar is having a fairly eventful Stateside visit.
We’ve known that the Taoiseach would have a busy schedule, but just to break it down so far:
Trump and Varadkar have become “fast friends” following annual shamrock handover in White House.
Varadkar stated his intention to invite Trump to Ireland, which Irish Labour Party Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin slammed by saying “The Taoiseach insults us all by inviting him.”
In one of his addresses in the US, Leo Varadkar called for marriage equality to be introduced to Northern Ireland, but following his meeting with Vice President Mike Pence, the VP refused questions about media ban and LGBT issues.
Oh, and Varadkar met Arnold Schwarzenegger. And it isn’t even St. Patrick’s Day yet!
Speaking of Pence, as per the official transcript via the White House website, Pence has accepted Varadkar’s invitation to visit Ireland:
But let me say, as the President said, yesterday, the relationship between Ireland and the United States has never been stronger and it’s only getting better. And I can attest to the strong and substantive discussions that we had yesterday and that will continue. And Taoiseach invited our family to come to Ireland in my official capacity, and so I’d like to announce to all of you: The Pence’s will be traveling to Ireland in the coming years. I promise you that. We will accept that wonderful invitation.
“In the coming years” sounds fairly nebulous, but we’re sure even the intention of visiting will get a reaction from certain folk in Ireland.
The Taoiseach’s state visit concludes on Saturday 17 March where Varadkar will meet with Mayor Bill de Blasio, attend the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral mass and finally walk in the Fifth Avenue parade.
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