Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump Meets With Leo Varadkar of Ireland at the White House - March 15, 2018 | Factba.se

Question

00:00:00 - 00:00:03 (3 sec)

Mr. President, are you going to come visit us soon?

Donald Trump

00:00:03 - 00:00:11 (9 sec)

I will. I love it. I love it. I have property there, and I may never get to see it again, but I will tell.

Question

00:00:11 - 00:00:12 (1 sec)

Will you play golf?

Donald Trump

00:00:12 - 00:00:14 (2 sec)

I do play golf. And you play golf, right?

Leo Varadkar

00:00:14 - 00:00:19 (5 sec)

I don't, but I'm always willing to learn so we can have you for a few rounds.

Question

00:00:19 - 00:00:22 (3 sec)

Are you going to visit the border, Mr. President, with Northern Ireland?

Donald Trump

00:00:22 - 00:00:29 (8 sec)

Well, that's an interesting border, also. We have two interesting borders. One happens to be where you are, right? It's going to be interesting to see what happens.

Donald Trump

00:00:29 - 00:00:49 (19 sec)

It's my great honor to have the very popular Prime Minister of Ireland with us. And we're having some good talks about trade and about military and about cyber and all of the other things that we're talking about. The relationship is outstanding and only getting better.

Donald Trump

00:00:49 - 00:01:05 (17 sec)

And it really is a very special group of people. 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 them. And Mr. Prime Minister, great to have you, thank you.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:05 - 00:01:12 (6 sec)

My pleasure. Thanks for the invitation to be there.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:12 - 00:01:13 (2 sec)

So I'm going to be in New York on Saturday.

Donald Trump

00:01:13 - 00:01:14 (1 sec)

Oh, good. Wow, that's good.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:14 - 00:01:16 (2 sec)

Yeah, for the parade. So marching on 5th Avenue.

Donald Trump

00:01:16 - 00:01:20 (3 sec)

That's good, I'd like to do it with you, I don't know.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:20 - 00:01:21 (1 sec)

Does it pass Trump Tower?

Donald Trump

00:01:21 - 00:01:22 (1 sec)

[Laughs] It does.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:22 - 00:01:23 (1 sec)

It does. Okay. Okay.

Donald Trump

00:01:23 - 00:01:24 (1 sec)

It goes right by Trump Tower.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:24 - 00:01:25 (1 sec)

That should be good.

Donald Trump

00:01:25 - 00:01:30 (5 sec)

I used to watch it all the time. I would watch it all the time. So you'll be there on Saturday?

Leo Varadkar

00:01:30 - 00:01:31 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:01:31 - 00:01:33 (2 sec)

Wow, that's good.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:33 - 00:01:36 (3 sec)

So a lot of the American side of my family came through New York. They're all in New Jersey and Florida now.

Donald Trump

00:01:36 - 00:01:37 (1 sec)

All right. That's right.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:37 - 00:01:39 (2 sec)

But some of them will be at the reception later.

Donald Trump

00:01:39 - 00:01:44 (4 sec)

That's right. That makes sense. And this is the first time in the Oval Office. And it's special.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:44 - 00:01:51 (7 sec)

I was telling President Trump, I was here before as a congressional intern back in 2000, but they didn't let me into the Oval Office on that occasion.

Donald Trump

00:01:51 - 00:01:57 (6 sec)

But now we do. You've made great progress. Thank you. Thank you for being with us. Thank you very much.

Leo Varadkar

00:01:57 - 00:02:03 (6 sec)

Yeah, absolutely. I look forward to talking about trade and a few other things later on.

Question

00:02:03 - 00:02:06 (4 sec)

What are you going to do about -- do you think Putin was behind this, Mr. President?

Donald Trump

00:02:06 - 00:02:21 (15 sec)

It looks like it. I spoke with the Prime Minister and we are in deep discussions. A very sad situation. It certainly looks like the Russians were behind it. Something that should never, ever happen. And we're taking it very seriously, as, I think, are many others.

Question

00:02:21 - 00:02:24 (3 sec)

And any more staff changes coming, sir?

Donald Trump

00:02:24 - 00:02:37 (13 sec)

Well, the story was very false. I mean, they wrote a story about staff changes today that was very false. We had made a wonderful change. I think Mike Pompeo is going to be an incredible Secretary of State. We have some wonderful ideas.

Donald Trump

00:02:37 - 00:02:45 (8 sec)

I've gotten to know a lot of people over the last year. You know, I've been in Washington for a little bit more than a year, whereas some people have been here for 30, 40 years. I've gotten to know great people.

Donald Trump

00:02:45 - 00:02:58 (13 sec)

So there will always be change, but very little. It was a very false story. It was very -- a very exaggerated -- a very exaggerated and false story. But there will always be change, and I think you want to see change.

Donald Trump

00:02:58 - 00:03:11 (13 sec)

And I want to also see different ideas. Larry Kudlow just came in a little while ago, and I think Larry is going to be outstanding as economic adviser, so we look forward to it. But we'll talk to you about it later.

Donald Trump

00:03:11 - 00:03:16 (5 sec)

Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you everybody.

Question

00:03:16 - 00:03:19 (3 sec)

Have you always been truthful with Prime Minister Trudeau?

Donald Trump

00:03:19 - 00:03:21 (2 sec)

Thank you very much.

Question

00:03:21 - 00:03:24 (3 sec)

Might you come to Ireland next year, Mr. President?

Donald Trump

00:03:24 - 00:03:25 (1 sec)

It could happen. Yeah.

Question

00:03:25 - 00:03:26 (1 sec)

Before reelection?

Donald Trump

00:03:26 - 00:03:29 (3 sec)

That could happen. Well, maybe -- maybe if that helps, right? [Laughs]

Leo Varadkar

00:03:29 - 00:03:29 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:03:29 - 00:03:31 (2 sec)

I look forward to being there. It's a great country.

Question

00:03:31 - 00:03:34 (2 sec)

You've received a formal invitation?

Donald Trump

00:03:34 - 00:03:36 (2 sec)

I guess I have received a formal invitation.

Question

00:03:36 - 00:03:36 (0 sec)

Will you visit the border?

Donald Trump

00:03:36 - 00:03:39 (3 sec)

I'd go to the border. Thank you all very much. Thank you.

Question

00:03:39 - 00:03:40 (1 sec)

Thanks, Mr. President.

Donald Trump

00:03:40 - 00:03:40 (1 sec)

Thank you. Thank you. Say hello to the people. Say hello. Great people.