The Taoiseach has insisted he didn’t mean to leave the President of the United States on hold last night.
Leo Varadkar took a ten-minute phone call from Donald Trump - but only after a 90-second delay at the Irish end.
During the call, the two leaders discussed Brexit, the Irish border situation, climate change, the undocumented Irish in America and trade.
The US president congratulated Mr Varadkar on his confirmation as Taoiseach – adding that he is looking forward to meeting him on St Patrick’s Day next year.
There was no discussion of a visit by the US President to Ireland, despite the invitation extended by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny during his last visit to the White House.
Speaking today, Mr Varadkar said there was an innocent explanation as to why President Trump was left on hold.
“There is no significance to the 90-second delay,” he said. “That was just a delay in putting the call through to me.”
“I have seen some of the coverage of that but there was no particular significance. I was very happy to take the call from President Trump.”
Since his confirmation as Taoiseach he has spoken to the French President Emmanuel Macron, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
