Leo makes new ‘couple friends’
LEO VARADKAR and his partner Matt Barrett are the new ‘couple friends’ of US vice president Kamala Harris and her husband, the vice president declared yesterday.
A meeting between the Taoiseach, his partner and the US VP and husband Doug Emhoff has become St Patrick’s tradition in Washington.
Yesterday, Ms Harris said: ‘Doug and I are very honoured to once again host the Taoiseach and Mr Barrett at the vice president’s residence.
‘I don’t think that we told you both but Doug and I decided after your last visit here that you will be our new couple friends.’
Mr Varadkar said: ‘Madam Vice President, to update the words of one of your distinguished predecessors, the President of the United States has 332 million bosses. The vice president has 332 million plus one. I think in some ways, it’s the hardest job but one that can have an extraordinary impact. I know a little bit what it’s like myself as somebody who went from Taoiseach, prime minister of the country, to Tánaiste or deputy prime minister, before returning to the top job. And I’m not going to lie, I know which one I prefer and I do even find it a little bit easier, even when it’s hard.’
He continued: ‘I believe you, Madam Vice President, showed great courage and leadership in recent weeks, when you spoke publicly in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza. I’m sure it can’t have been easy, but it was the right thing to do.’
Evoking the US role in brokering the Good Friday Agreement, Mr Varadkar said the catastrophe in Gaza ‘will haunt us all for years to come’.