Travel Report 7 - POTUS departs, answers Qs + Gift info

At 10:00a President Trump shook hands with President Connolly and stepped outside the “Irish White House.”

Unfortunately the pool was ushered to vans in advance so did not witness a quick exchange with reporters outside the residence. He stopped on the red carpet to answer a shouted question about concerns about Saudi Arabia and the Strait of Hormuz, and said

“it will all work out fine.”

He was then asked about Irish energy prices being high, and the president said “they should open up the north sea” and the prices will “tumble.” (Thank you to colleagues for sharing video of the exchange.)

Next, we head to Farmleigh House for a meeting with Taoiseach Michel Martin.

President Trump was given three gifts by the Irish president, according to a handout given to media:

• The St Brigid’s Cross, “a simple, handmade symbol of protection, welcome and peace in the home.”

• A 2026 edition of Navigatio Sancti Brendani - The Voyage of St Brendan - a significant work of Irish medieval literature

• A 2006 volume of collected poems of Michael Longley, a poet from Belfast

Meridith McGraw

White House Reporter