An Irish reporter has told of her surprise at being summoned over to President Donald Trump’s desk while he was on the phone to the new Taoiseach, and being told by the president that she has “a nice smile”.

Caitriona Perry, White House correspondent for RTE, Ireland’s public service broadcaster, described Tuesday's incident as “bizarre”.

"One minute we were outside the window, and the next minute I'm meeting the President of the United States," she said.

"Usually we would shoot from outside the window of the White House and that's what we were expecting today.

“But instead we were invited inside to witness the president's call to the Taoiseach.

“When we went in he was already on the phone but I caught his eye and he called me over."