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| President Trump says Brexit 'no problem' for Ireland | President Trump says Brexit 'no problem' for Ireland |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The issue of the Irish border after Brexit will "not be a problem at all," Donald Trump has claimed on his first visit to Ireland as US President. | The issue of the Irish border after Brexit will "not be a problem at all," Donald Trump has claimed on his first visit to Ireland as US President. |
| He arrived at Shannon Airport at about 16:45 local time and held a meeting with Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar. | He arrived at Shannon Airport at about 16:45 local time and held a meeting with Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar. |
| He told Mr Varadkar that Americans "love the Irish" and said he believed things would work out well with "with your wall, your border" after Brexit. | He told Mr Varadkar that Americans "love the Irish" and said he believed things would work out well with "with your wall, your border" after Brexit. |
| Mr Trump then travelled to Doonbeg to stay at his golf resort. | Mr Trump then travelled to Doonbeg to stay at his golf resort. |
| He bought the Doonbeg hotel and golf course in County Clare in 2014. | He bought the Doonbeg hotel and golf course in County Clare in 2014. |
| Mr Varadkar welcomed Mr Trump to Ireland and said it was the sixth time that a serving American president has visited the state. | Mr Varadkar welcomed Mr Trump to Ireland and said it was the sixth time that a serving American president has visited the state. |
| Mr Trump described Mr Varadkar as his friend and said the relationship between Ireland and the US was "as good as it's ever been, maybe better". | Mr Trump described Mr Varadkar as his friend and said the relationship between Ireland and the US was "as good as it's ever been, maybe better". |
| The president added that there were "millions" of Irish people in the US and said: "I think I know most of them because they're my friends. | The president added that there were "millions" of Irish people in the US and said: "I think I know most of them because they're my friends. |
| "We love the Irish, so it's an honour to be here." | "We love the Irish, so it's an honour to be here." |
| Mr Trump, who just completed a three-day state visit to the UK, said he would discuss Brexit, the military and trade during his meeting with Mr Varadkar. | Mr Trump, who just completed a three-day state visit to the UK, said he would discuss Brexit, the military and trade during his meeting with Mr Varadkar. |
| "Probably you'll ask me about Brexit because I just left some very good people who are very much involved with Brexit as you know, and I think it will all work out very well," Mr Trump said. | "Probably you'll ask me about Brexit because I just left some very good people who are very much involved with Brexit as you know, and I think it will all work out very well," Mr Trump said. |
| "And also for you, with your wall, your border. 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." | "And also for you, with your wall, your border. 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." |
| The taoiseach pointed out the Irish government wanted to avoid "a border or wall" between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. | The taoiseach pointed out the Irish government wanted to avoid "a border or wall" between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. |
| Mr Trump replied: "I think you do, I think you do. The way it works now is good, you want to try and keep it that way." | Mr Trump replied: "I think you do, I think you do. The way it works now is good, you want to try and keep it that way." |
| He added that Ireland was in "great shape" and that once a new UK prime minister was installed in Downing Street, he hoped a Brexit deal or resolution could be negotiated with the EU. | He added that Ireland was in "great shape" and that once a new UK prime minister was installed in Downing Street, he hoped a Brexit deal or resolution could be negotiated with the EU. |
| He also said he hoped the US and Irish government would agree on access to E3 working visas for Irish citizens to the US. | He also said he hoped the US and Irish government would agree on access to E3 working visas for Irish citizens to the US. |
| The two leaders then went to meet in private. | The two leaders then went to meet in private. |
| In a solo press conference after the meeting, Mr Varadkar was asked about Mr Trump's description of the Irish border as a "wall" and whether or not the president understood how much the Irish government wanted to avoid a hard border after Brexit. | In a solo press conference after the meeting, Mr Varadkar was asked about Mr Trump's description of the Irish border as a "wall" and whether or not the president understood how much the Irish government wanted to avoid a hard border after Brexit. |
| "He's the president of America and there are nearly 200 countries in the world, so I don't think it's possible for him to have an in-depth understanding of issues in every single country, which is why this engagement is important," Mr Varadkar replied. | "He's the president of America and there are nearly 200 countries in the world, so I don't think it's possible for him to have an in-depth understanding of issues in every single country, which is why this engagement is important," Mr Varadkar replied. |
| The taoiseach also said: "He is in favour of Brexit as you know, and we're not, but he understands that a major issue is the border between north and south and he shares our objective to keep the border open as it is now, respecting the Good Friday Agreement." | The taoiseach also said: "He is in favour of Brexit as you know, and we're not, but he understands that a major issue is the border between north and south and he shares our objective to keep the border open as it is now, respecting the Good Friday Agreement." |
| Mr Varadkar also said the pair discussed the Republic of Ireland's low rate of corporation tax and agreed on the need for governments to work together to ensure large companies pay their "fair share" of tax. | Mr Varadkar also said the pair discussed the Republic of Ireland's low rate of corporation tax and agreed on the need for governments to work together to ensure large companies pay their "fair share" of tax. |
| The taoiseach said he pointed out that the economic relationship between Ireland and America has "changed" and was now "very much a two-way relationship". | The taoiseach said he pointed out that the economic relationship between Ireland and America has "changed" and was now "very much a two-way relationship". |
| "Ireland is in the top 10 when it comes to investors into the United States and also there are nearly 100,000 Americans working for Irish-owned firms in the United States, so it was another opportunity to point out that the economic relationship is now very much mutually beneficial," Mr Varadkar said. | "Ireland is in the top 10 when it comes to investors into the United States and also there are nearly 100,000 Americans working for Irish-owned firms in the United States, so it was another opportunity to point out that the economic relationship is now very much mutually beneficial," Mr Varadkar said. |
| What is the significance of the visit? | What is the significance of the visit? |
| The visit to the Republic of Ireland comes as part of a wider state visit by the US president to the UK, and for D-Day commemorations. | The visit to the Republic of Ireland comes as part of a wider state visit by the US president to the UK, and for D-Day commemorations. |
| On Tuesday, he held talks with UK Prime Minister Theresa May where he paid tribute to the US-UK "special relationship", and Mr Trump promised a "phenomenal" trade deal after the UK leaves the EU, suggesting it could double or treble trade. | On Tuesday, he held talks with UK Prime Minister Theresa May where he paid tribute to the US-UK "special relationship", and Mr Trump promised a "phenomenal" trade deal after the UK leaves the EU, suggesting it could double or treble trade. |
| President Trump was originally due to visit the Republic of Ireland last year, but the trip was postponed for scheduling reasons. | President Trump was originally due to visit the Republic of Ireland last year, but the trip was postponed for scheduling reasons. |
| There is likely to be interest in what he has to say about maintaining the US-Ireland relationship. | There is likely to be interest in what he has to say about maintaining the US-Ireland relationship. |
| However, there is also expected to be opposition to the president's visit, with a protest due to take place outside the grounds of Shannon Airport. | However, there is also expected to be opposition to the president's visit, with a protest due to take place outside the grounds of Shannon Airport. |
| A protest took place in Belfast on Tuesday evening against the president's visit. | A protest took place in Belfast on Tuesday evening against the president's visit. |
| Analysis: A courtesy call from an unpredictable president | Analysis: A courtesy call from an unpredictable president |
| By Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI political reporter | By Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI political reporter |
| Until a few short weeks ago, this visit had not even been publicly confirmed. | Until a few short weeks ago, this visit had not even been publicly confirmed. |
| Since taking office in 2017, President Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to make a trip to Ireland - and now he has. | |
| In Doonbeg, his purchase of the golf resort has been a big boost to the local economy - and while he stays there this week, it's likely to rake in more publicity for the County Clare village. | In Doonbeg, his purchase of the golf resort has been a big boost to the local economy - and while he stays there this week, it's likely to rake in more publicity for the County Clare village. |
| His meeting with Leo Varadkar was not a long affair and came a day after talks with Theresa May, and a day before he meets France's President Macron. | |
| Nothing on his agenda stands out so far, but as with all events related to Donald Trump, it is better to expect the unexpected. | |
| How long is he visiting Ireland for? | How long is he visiting Ireland for? |
| President Trump will depart Shannon on Thursday morning to go to France for further commemorations. | President Trump will depart Shannon on Thursday morning to go to France for further commemorations. |
| He will hold a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron before returning to his Doonbeg resort. | He will hold a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron before returning to his Doonbeg resort. |
| Senior Irish officials have been invited by the US delegation to Mr Trump's golf club, including the Irish government's special envoy to the US, John Deasy, and Ireland's ambassador to the US, Dan Mulhall. | Senior Irish officials have been invited by the US delegation to Mr Trump's golf club, including the Irish government's special envoy to the US, John Deasy, and Ireland's ambassador to the US, Dan Mulhall. |
| Mr Trump is expected to play golf on Friday before flying back to the US. | Mr Trump is expected to play golf on Friday before flying back to the US. |
| Why is the meeting happening in Shannon? | Why is the meeting happening in Shannon? |
| President Trump is the latest in a long line of world leaders to arrive at Shannon Airport. | President Trump is the latest in a long line of world leaders to arrive at Shannon Airport. |
| Former US President Ronald Reagan touched down there to begin a visit in 1984, where he faced crowds of protesters over his administration's foreign policy. | Former US President Ronald Reagan touched down there to begin a visit in 1984, where he faced crowds of protesters over his administration's foreign policy. |
| Unlike some of his predecessors, Mr Trump is not making a speech in the Dáil, and is not visiting any official Irish government buildings. | Unlike some of his predecessors, Mr Trump is not making a speech in the Dáil, and is not visiting any official Irish government buildings. |