Leader takes to Twitter to decry George Hook jibe as ‘fake news’

STEP aside, Donald Trump. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has decided to use Twitter to take on what he saw as the ‘fake news’ from radio presenter George Hook.

The Taoiseach, who is in Canada on an official trip, took umbrage with the Newstalk presenter’s suggestion he was “swanning around”.

Mr Hook was reacting to coverage of the Taoiseach’s trip, which including marching in Montreal’s gay pride parade alongside his partner Matt Barrett and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

On Twitter, Mr Varadkar said: “George. Not swanning around Canada. 4 meetings & 4 public events today. Business. Tourism. Media. Irish community. Jobs. Trade.” The post was retweeted dozens of times before the presenter responded on his programme, ‘The Right Hook’. Mr Hook (inset) noted his “rant” about the Taoiseach’s trip at the start of his show would have been broadcast at 7am Canadian time.

“So we do know the Taoiseach – true to form – [who] represents the people that get up early in the morning – was indeed up early in the morning.”