President Trump has been highly critical of what he calls the “fake news media”

Leo Varadkar prompted “raised eyebrows” when he sympathised with President Trump’s views on the media and criticised political coverage in Ireland while meeting expats in New York.

In comments at an invitation-only event, the taoiseach criticised Irish political correspondents and joked that they outnumbered TDs in Leinster House. He said that reporters spent more time covering gossip heard in corridors than substantive political issues, before adding that he was biased because his work as an Irish politician was covered by the same reporters.

The taoiseach made the remarks during his visit to New York to lobby for Ireland to win a seat on the United Nations security council for a two-year term from 2021.

During the three-day visit, Mr Varadkar held a lunch with up