Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Varadkar of Ireland Before Bilateral Meeting | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

Shannon Airport  •  Shannon, Ireland  •  June 5  •  4:59 P.M. IST
    PRIME MINISTER VARADKAR: So, I just want to welcome all the members of the press who traveled here. And it's a great pleasure to be able to welcome President Trump to the Uni - to the United States - to Ireland. And certainly not the first time he's been here, or in County Clare. This is the first he's been here as President of the United States. Only, I think, the sixth time an American President in office -

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: I think so.

    PRIME MINISTER VARADKAR: - has visited Ireland. So we're very pleased to have you here and look forward to meeting later on.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I appreciate it. The Prime Minister has done a fantastic job. And we've become friends over the last very short period of time. And great relationship with Ireland. I think as good as it's ever been. Maybe better. Tremendous trade. We do a lot of business together. A lot of trade business together. A lot of tourism together.

    And maybe most importantly, you are certainly one of the leading countries in terms of people moving and living in the United States. We have millions of Irish. And I think I know most of them because they're my friends. We love the Irish.

    So, it's an honor to be here. We'll be discussing various things. Probably, you'll ask me about Brexit because I just left some very good people that are very much involved with Brexit, as you know. And I think that'll all work out. It will all work out very well. And also, for you, with your wall, your border. I mean, we have a border situation in the United States, and you have one over here. But I hear it's going to work out very well. I think it's both going to work out well. It's going to work out very well here.

    And, again, both the military and the trade is such a big factor, and we're going to be discussing that very much.

    So, it's an honor to be in Ireland with my friend, and he's doing a great job as your Prime Minister.

    PRIME MINISTER VARADKAR: The main thing we want to avoid, of course, is a border or a wall between both sides.


    PRESIDENT TRUMP: No, I think you do. I think you do. The way it works now is good. You want to try and keep it that way. And I know that's a big point of contention with respect to Brexit, is your border. And I'm sure it's going to work out well. I know they're focused very heavily on it.

    Q   Mr. President, can I ask you: Do you think Brexit will be bad for Ireland? You said it's good for the UK, but will it not be bad for Ireland?

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: No, I think it should be good. I mean, the big thing is going to be your border, and hopefully that's going to work out. I think it will work out. There are a lot of good minds thinking about how to do it, and it's going to be - it's going to be just fine. I think, ultimately, it could even be very, very good for Ireland. But the border will work out.

    Q   Mr. President, what do you think of our President's comments, where he said your stance on climate change was "pernicious" and "reckless"?

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I haven't heard those comments. But, you know, we have the cleanest air in the world, in the United States, and it's gotten better since I'm President. We have the cleanest water; it's crystal clean. And I always say I want crystal clean water and air. So I haven't heard his comments, but we do have - we're setting records, environmentally.

    Q   Mr. President, are you concerned that Ireland is not sufficiently worried about the threat from Huawei? I know that issue came up in Britain. Some people worry about it in this country, as well.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I know that. And we deal very closely, as you know, with your intelligence and your security. And we're working on that together, and I know you're concerned like we're concerned. We're all concerned about it. So we'll have it -

    PRIME MINISTER VARADKAR: Well, that's something -

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Right.

    PRIME MINISTER VARADKAR: That's something that the Irish government is concerned about as well, and we've been offered some further briefings, information, from the U.S. side, just to give us a security briefing on that. And we'll do our own security analysis first, and then a (inaudible). But it is something that we're also concerned about.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: We're working on that together, very much, with not only Europe but with Ireland.


    Q   Mr. President, you'll be spending a few days in Doonbeg. What's your plan? What will you be doing in Doonbeg?

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: So, we'll be going there, and then, as you know, I'm making a trip tomorrow to Normandy. We had an incredible time today. This was just something that - the likes of which few people have seen anything like it. We were with the Queen and the Royal Family, and we were with the Prime Minister, and it was something very special. And many of you were there. I think almost all of you were there. But it's been very well covered, and it was truly beautiful.

    And tomorrow we go to where it all took place; we go to Normandy. And I'll be leaving from Doonbeg. I'm staying here overnight, and I thought this would be the best place. I'd love to come to Ireland and stay at Doonbeg, and tomorrow we'll be leaving and going to Normandy. So, many of you will be coming with us.

    Q   Is this trip about promoting your golf club?

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Say it?

    Q   Mr. President, is this trip, for you, just about promoting your golf club?

    PRESIDENT TRUMP: No, this trip is really about great relationships that we have with the UK. And I really wanted to do this stop in Ireland. It was very important to me because of the relationship I have with the people and with your Prime Minister.