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Trump and Varadkar meeting at the White House. Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

'A total exaggeration': Tánaiste dismisses reports of row between government and US over Trump visit

It has been widely reported that Trump will be in the country for a number of days at the beginning of June.

LAST UPDATE | 19 May 2019

TÁNAISTE SIMON COVENEY has played down rumours that there is a row between the White House and the Irish government over the location of a potential meeting between Donald Trump and Leo Varadkar during the US president’s expected visit next month.

It has been widely reported that Trump will be in the country for a number of days at the beginning of June. However, there has been no official confirmation as of yet coming from the White House. 

Reports in US media and the Irish Times this week have suggested that there is a standoff between both countries over where the meeting will take place. 

It is reported that White House officials and Trump want the meeting between the two leaders to take place at Trump’s Doonbeg golf resort in Clare. However, Varadkar and Irish want a more neutral venue. 

Irish government officials are said to be exploring the possibility of hosting a meeting at Dromoland Castle in Co Clare.

But speaking on This Week on RTÉ Radio 1, Coveney called media reports about a standoff between the two countries “a total exaggeration”.

“Let me just reassure people: there’s no row, that’s the first thing. And there’s certainly no row over Doonbeg versus other locations,” he said.

“The reason why there’s been a delay here,  or uncertainty, is that the US are essentially working out the President’s visit to the EU, what’s going to be a private element of that visit and what’s going to be very public.

“And in that context they’re looking at Ireland.”

The Tánaiste said it was inappropriate for him to reveal details of the visit until the US confirmed that such a visit was taking place, but added that the government expected clarity on the issue “in the next couple of days”.

His comments follow a similar denial of a standoff by the Irish embassy in Washington.

A spokesperson for the embassy in the White House told RTÉ News there was no row between the two countries on the issue. 

“Contrary to what has been reported, there is no standoff about the venue for a meeting between President Trump and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. There have been some preliminary discussions on venues”.

Having met him twice in the White House, the Taoiseach would welcome an opportunity to meet President Trump should he decide to visit Ireland while he is in Europe next month.

Protests 

Opposition parties have signalled that they will hold protests should Trump visit. 

Both the Labour party and the Social Democrats have spoken out against Trump’s visit, stating he is “not welcome in Ireland”.

Labour Senator Aodhán O Ríordáin has said “Trump is no ordinary president”  adding that he “is the face of hate, racism and division”.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats have called his visit it “a betrayal of Irish values”.

Trump is due to visit the UK and France at the start of June for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Sources say that if the trip goes ahead he is expected to arrive in Ireland, where he will stay at his Doonbeg resort in Co Clare, on 5 June.

It’s expected he will then head to France for further World War II commemorative events the following day, before returning to Doonbeg for another overnight stay.

With reporting from Stephen McDermott.

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    Mute Spartacus Ireland
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    May 19th 2019, 8:08 AM

    Leo’s media machine is so laughable: “Tough Leo-the-lion tells Trump where to meet”

    212
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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    May 19th 2019, 6:08 PM

    @Spartacus Ireland: And in a sinister twist, Tanaiste and former Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has diverted attention from this by promising clarity within days…..
    Meanwhile the government continue talks with their sugar daddy and his fellow private investors regarding the rollout of rural broadband.

    72
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    Mute Martin O'Reilly
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    May 19th 2019, 6:55 PM

    @Spartacus Ireland: Do not trust Coventry! The moral high ground always, but this man does not answer phone calls to his office, or keep his word. And many are hypnotised by him? He behaves like the feudal chieftain where most constituents are either below him, or treated as plebs!

    16
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    Mute Jimmy Carroll
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    May 19th 2019, 10:17 AM

    Leo would love to see every Irish man and woman leave Ireland, and replace them with foreigners

    217
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    Mute Brendan Cooney
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    May 19th 2019, 10:31 AM

    @Jimmy Carroll: ROFLOL, well given the amount of giving out most commentators on here make about our own politicians, maybe it time to see if somebody else can do better.

    26
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    Mute Niall
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    May 19th 2019, 11:09 AM

    @Jimmy Carroll: that made me laugh on a Sunday !!!

    22
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    Mute Damien
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    May 19th 2019, 1:51 PM

    @Brendan Cooney: Is that..roll on the floor laughing out loud? Honestly I cant keep up with ya kids and yer Lingo these days.

    21
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    Mute John Kelly
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    May 19th 2019, 1:54 PM

    @Jimmy Carroll: did it take you long to think of that. Very silly made up version of an assumed opinion someone has .

    9
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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    May 19th 2019, 2:21 PM

    @Jimmy Carroll: You are mighty boring.

    7
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    Mute Conor Thorne
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    May 19th 2019, 10:22 PM

    @Jimmy Carroll: jimmy you are a muppet

    1
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    May 19th 2019, 9:54 AM

    Traditionally most past Irish leaders “got on” with US presidents and in return the Irish got Morrison and Donnelly visas in a lottery system when Ireland was in the jax.
    Now Leo’s “tough”stance probably doesn’t help the undocumented Irish in America .

    It’s politics n ego but diplomacy is key .

    119
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    Mute Derek Reilly
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    May 19th 2019, 10:19 AM

    @Quentin Moriarty: Haha, ” Leo’s tough stance” …well that’s an oxymoron for a start, and then you say ” undocumented Irish ” . I think you mean illegal Irish .

    136
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    May 19th 2019, 12:48 PM

    @Derek Reilly: called tact

    11
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    Mute Digital Éire Anon
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    May 19th 2019, 11:37 AM

    The Labour Senator is right about one thing, President Trump is no ordinary President. Taking down a globally corrupt system has never been attempted before. Main Stream Media have proytrayed Trump as, an enemy of the people. When truly his Presidency is about FREEDOM, JUSTICE and restoring power back into the hands of the people. The CORRUPT Establishment is currently being dismantled. Enjoy the show.

    https://youtu.be/G2qIXXafxCQ

    105
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    Mute Big Knickers
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    May 19th 2019, 11:47 AM

    @Digital Éire Anon: thanks for that, I needed a good laugh!

    48
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    Mute John Kelly
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    May 19th 2019, 1:46 PM

    @Digital Éire Anon: that was very funny .. God the ideas people come up with..trump is filling the swamp with his own swampies .. also he is building his own corrupt establishment.. out with the old in with my gang ..

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    Mute Martin O'Reilly
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    May 19th 2019, 6:59 PM

    @Digital Éire Anon: Yes? Could be the lesser of two evils? So where do you go with this?

    1
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    Mute Conor Thorne
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    May 19th 2019, 10:26 PM

    @Digital Éire Anon: I’d say you graduated with a first from Trump university

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    Mute David Garland
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    May 19th 2019, 12:42 PM

    I’m just wondering why the journal and other Irish media outlets are so disrespectful as to just call him “Trump” I don’t know any other US Presidnt that was shown so much disrespect..

    92
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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    May 19th 2019, 3:30 PM

    @David Garland: In fairness he’s referred to as Trump, the President, and Donald Trump in the article. It pretty much the same if you look back on any of the Obama articles. ‘Trump’ is his brand too, it’s on the top of every building he owns, he’d be delighted with the brand recognition I imagine.

    13
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    Mute Desmond Lyons
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    May 19th 2019, 7:38 PM

    @David Garland: Obama!

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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    May 19th 2019, 1:49 PM

    If they are denying it then it must be true…

    30
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    Mute Marianne
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    May 19th 2019, 3:59 PM

    Leo and the rest of his gang should be concentrating on the awfull mess they have put our country in

    32
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    Mute Shane O Malley
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    May 19th 2019, 1:57 PM

    So it’s a given, there is a squabble

    17
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    Mute Alan Scott
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    May 19th 2019, 1:48 PM

    Trump wants to show off Doonbeg Castle and golf course to the Tourists in the hope of getting more visitors in . Why would Leo and Government be hapy with that? Its a win win situation

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    Mute Jude
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    May 19th 2019, 4:20 PM

    @Alan Scott: It’s a dump

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    Mute wattsed56
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    May 19th 2019, 3:11 PM

    I don’t get it. If the visit isn’t confirmed let alone a proposed meeting, which eejit from which country and from which department leaked it to the media in the first place, and why?
    Or was it leaked on purpose to scupper the visit, as it was last time?

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    Mute Colm Lyons
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    May 19th 2019, 3:07 PM

    The smell of poo off that statement is overwhelming.

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    Mute Michael Maher
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    May 19th 2019, 11:42 PM

    Trump is a good man and a good christian the best US president in a long time
    Too good for the misfits we vote for on this Island.

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    Mute Tony Harris
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    May 19th 2019, 7:54 PM

    Labour and the social democrats have deemed he is not welcome in Ireland! Mandated to do so by such a large percentage of the population I see.

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    Mute Candace
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    May 19th 2019, 5:04 PM

    ..

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    Mute 5hbeZh0I
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    May 19th 2019, 8:23 PM

    No smoke without fire

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