White House puts flags out for taoiseach

It was a historic moment for

Leo Varadkar – but it looked like just another day at the office for Donald Trump.

The Taoiseach was visiting the US capital as a guest of honour and Ireland’s leader – 18 years after he walked the corridors of Capitol Hill as an intern to Republican Congressman Jack Quinn.

It was a momentous occasion for him, and for our country, but you couldn’t help thinking The Donald does this sort of thing every day.

While Mr Varadkar sat stately in one of the two chairs in perhaps the most famous room in the world, Mr Trump preferred to lean over to talk about golf with the journalists.

CEREMONY

He didn’t seem too excited, in fact, the over-zealous sniffer dog that went over reporters’ bags at the White House gates seemed more up for the day.

But what Mr Trump may lack in statesmanship, he more than makes up for with pomp and ceremony.

Nowhere was this more evident than with the military welcoming party for the Taoiseach at the White House.

There were so many flags, which was the US President’s idea apparently.

An old hack who has been covering the White House beat since the Jimmy Carter days in 1980 told the Irish Mirror that on his election as President, Mr Trump had a look around and demanded: “More flags.”

Well, he got more as there were 50 to greet the Taoiseach’s party yesterday – one for every State.

Even Layla was impressed by that.