HE CERTAINLY loves the ladies.

US president Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Irish Prime Minister (known as a “Taoiseach”) Leo Varadkar on a range of issues from migration to Brexit.

But a Twitter post shows how he seems to have become distracted by a female Irish reporter covering the call, who proceeded to call the moment “bizarre”.

Caitriona Perry, Washington correspondent for RTE, Ireland’s National Television and Radio Broadcaster, posted the moment Mr Trump interrupted his call to comment on Ms Perry’s “nice smile”.

“Well, we have a lot of your Irish press watching us,” Mr Trump says, before spotting Ms Perry. “And where are you from?” he asks, motioning her to come closer.

“Go ahead. Come here, come here. Where are you from? We have all of this beautiful Irish press.

“She has a nice smile on her face so I bet she treats you well,” he says with a smirk, before Ms Perry scuttles away.

Video of the bizarre moment when President @realDonaldTrump called me over during his call with Taoiseach @campaignforLeo Varadkar. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/TMl2SFQaji — Caitriona Perry (@CaitrionaPerry) June 27, 2017

In an Instagram post, Ms Perry later described the introduction as “one of the more bizarre moments of my time as RTE Washington Correspondent”. Ms Perry’s followers sent messages of concern following the post, some asking “was that uncomfortable”?

“That’s kind of creepy. Do you think that he was being sexist in any way? I mean did it feel like he was judging you based on your looks?” another wrote.

Others on social shared similar thoughts.

We apologize that our president is a weird, inappropriate creep. — Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) June 27, 2017

He said, "She has a nice smile. I bet she treats you well." Level 10 creeper! — JMC (@Juliana4984) June 27, 2017

1) it was utterly inappropriate in the work-place...they weren't on a date!

2) you could see she was uncomfortable, he relishes this power — Caroline Feraday (@CarolineFeraday) June 28, 2017

It's hell to be objectified. When POTUS has no fear of doing that surrounded by cameras... I'm so sorry. Your success is more than a smile. — Cristin Harber (@CristinHarber) June 28, 2017

I just threw up a little in my mouth — Eimear (@eimzkavanagh) June 27, 2017

*sigh* The apology tour Americans are going to have to go on after this turnip is ousted is going to be long.



We are truly sorry, Ms. P. — Dane Rauschenberg (@SeeDaneRun) June 27, 2017

Last month newly unearthed footage showed a younger Donald Trump making a lewd advance towards Spice Girl Emma Bunton — while then-girlfriend Melania looked on.

His prior flirtations recorded in a 2005 recording which shows Mr Trump verbally demeaning women, notably Access Hollywood host Arianne Zucker and Entertainment Tonight host Nancy O’Dell, have followed him since the October 2016 controversy.

In the call overnight, Mr Trump congratulated Ireland’s new Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who earlier this month became the country’s youngest ever and first openly gay leader.

“Congratulations on your great victory,” Trump told Varadkar, as the US leader sat at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office for the telephone talks.

“We have so many people from Ireland in this country — I know so many of them, I feel like I know all of them.” A small group of journalists was allowed to witness the start of the talks — an unusual move by the White House.

Pres pool watched Pres Trump on hold for at least 90 seconds waiting for the new Irish Prime Minister to pick up. pic.twitter.com/dG2uK9UlGz — Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 27, 2017

The 38-year-old Varadkar, who was born in Dublin to an Indian immigrant father and an Irish mother, is seen as progressive on social issues such as gender equality and abortion rights.

But he has been criticised by opposition parties for his more conservative views on economic issues.

Varadkar took office as prime minister, or taoiseach, earlier this month after winning the leadership of Ireland’s ruling centre-right Fine Gael party

— Additional reporting by AFP