TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY had a 10-minute phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump last night.

A statement from the Government Press Office says that Kenny spoke to the Republican, who scored a massive upset victory over Hillary Clinton yesterday.

The Taoiseach confirmed that Irish leaders will be invited to the White House next St Patrick’s Day.

The statement reads:

“During a 10 minute conversation the Taoiseach congratulated Mr Trump on his electoral success and both men committed to working together to the mutual benefit of Ireland and the United States.

The President-elect confirmed to the Taoiseach that in the spirit of the strong ties between the two countries, the long-standing tradition of Taoisigh attending the White House for St Patrick’s Day celebrations would continue and extended an invitation to the Taoiseach in that regard for next year 2017.

Obama

Trump will today head to Washington DC for talks with Barack Obama.

48 hours after Trump’s upset win, the 70-year-old President-elect will get a chance to measure the drapes ahead of his January inauguration.

It could be a deeply uneasy meeting for two men who have sparred repeatedly.

Trump has questioned whether Obama was born in the United States — a suggestion laden with deep racial overtones — and the Democratic commander-in-chief has described the celebrity businessman as “uniquely unqualified” to be president.

With AFP reporting

- © AFP 2016