Trump to visit Ireland in November, White House says

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Donald Trump at the White House last March

US President Donald Trump is to visit in Ireland in November, the White House has announced.

In a statement, the White House said Mr Trump will visit Ireland as part of a wider trip to Europe, to "renew the deep and historic ties between our two nations".

The White House said Mr Trump will travel to Paris to participate in a 11 November commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the fighting in World War I.

The Government confirmed the news, saying Taoiseach Leo Varadkar expects the US President for a "brief visit" on his way to or from the Armistice commemorations in Paris.

"It will be an opportunity to follow up on the issues discussed in the White House in March including migration, trade, climate change and human rights issues," a Government statement read.

.@BrianOD_News with details as the White House announces US President Donald Trump is to visit in Ireland in November pic.twitter.com/j8BFFNvp9p

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 31, 2018

On the visit, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said Mr Trump is "always welcome in Ireland".

"Our two countries have such strong historic, economic, cultural and family ties. Maintaining those connections is always a top priority," he said.

An advance party from the White House is expected to arrive in Ireland in the coming weeks to assess the logistics and security requirements of the trip. 

After that, the final details of the visit are expected to be announced.

It is understood that Mr Trump will visit Doonbeg in Co Clare, where he owns a golf course, and that a visit to Dublin may happen if time allows.

.@BrianOD_News with further details of the visit of US President Donald Trump to Ireland in November pic.twitter.com/zUg8Hazvqc

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 31, 2018

It is the first time that Mr Trump has visited Ireland since he entered the White House at the start of 2017.

It follows a meeting between him and Taosieach Leo Varadkar at the White House in March.

Mr Trump said at the time that he planned to go to the border as part of the visit. Asked by reporters if he intended to visit, he said: "I will. I love it, I love it.

"I have property there and I might not get to see it again, but I will."