Trump meets Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar ahead of St. Patrick's Day

David Jackson | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — St. Patrick's Day is coming, so it's time for the prime minister of Ireland to call on the president at the White House.

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar made this year's traditional and largely ceremonial visit, though his talk with President Trump also touched on such serious topics as trade, military assistance, and cyber-security, as well as small talk about golf.

“The relationship is outstanding and only getting better," Trump said as he welcomed the Irish leader to the Oval Office. "A tremendous number of Irish are living in New York, where I grew up and they’re living in the United States. And these are truly wonderful people. We love ‘em.”

Trump also indicated he would accept Varadkar's invitation to visit Ireland, and said the trip might include a tour of the border with Northern Ireland.

The businessman-turned-president noted he has a golf property in Ireland.

When a reporter asked Varadkar if he plays golf, the prime minister — or the Taoiseach (pronounced tee-shocks), as the office is known in Ireland — said no, but "I'm always willing to learn."

While St. Patrick's Day itself is Saturday, both leaders wore shamrocks in their jacket pockets.

After his meeting with Varadkar at the White House, Trump engages in other traditional Irish-theme activities. First comes the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon with congressional lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Later, back at the White House, Varadkar will present the Shamrock Bowl to Trump.

Welcome to Ireland

In the days leading up to the meeting, Varadkar said he would use his meeting with Trump to stress Irish-American economic ties, as well as his opposition to trade barriers.

The Irish visit comes less than a week after Trump announced tariffs on certain steel aluminum imports. Critics included the European Union, of which Ireland is a member.

Varadkar also announced he would invited Trump to visit Ireland, a source of some dispute in the country.

Last year, when he was Ireland's social protection minister, Varadkar said he would not have invited Trump to the country, as then then-prime minister did.

Now that he is prime minister, Varadkar said he has changed his mind.

"Donald Trump has invited me to Washington D.C.," Varadkar said this week. "He has invited me to his house and I think it is just normal hospitality that when someone invites you their house and their country that you reciprocate the invitation."

If it happens, the trip might also include part of Northern Ireland.

"That's an interesting border also," Trump said.