US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania have arrived in Ireland and said they are honored to be in the country.
Speaking to the media, Mr Varadkar said it was a great honor to welcome President Trump to Ireland.
Mr Trump responded by saying he and Mr Varadkar have become friends, adding: “We love the Irish – it’s an honor to be here.”
Mr Trump said Ireland and the US do a lot of business together and noted it is one of the leading countries in terms of people moving to the US.
“We have millions of Irish and I think I know most of them because they are my friends, we love the Irish, so it’s an honor to be here, we will be discussing various things, probably he’ll ask me about Brexit because I know some very good people that are very likely to welcome Brexit.
Mr Varadkar responded by saying Ireland wanted to avoid a border or a wall.
Asked about the United State as a guarantor of peace in Northern Ireland, Mr Trump said: “I think what’s going to happen is over the next period of time is, first we have to wait to see who is going to be Prime Minister, and I think it’s a very important decision, we’ll see what happens over in the UK because that’s going to be decision number one, who is going to be Prime Minister.
“Once that happens, that person will get in and try to make a deal and maybe if they don’t make a deal, they do it in a different way but I know one thing, Ireland is going to be in great shape, Ireland is a special place that’s going to be in very good shape.
“I don’t think the border is going to be a problem at all.”
President Trump said he also expects to discuss the military and trade and Mr Varadkar.
“It’s an honor to be in Ireland with my friend and he is doing a great job as your Prime Minister,” Mr Trump added.
Mr Trump was asked about Irish President Michael D Higgins’ comments about his “regressive” record on climate change.
Mr Trump responded: “I haven’t heard those comments, but we have the cleanest air in the world in the United States and it’s gotten better since I became president, we have the cleanest water, it is crystal clear, I always say I want crystal clear water and air, so I haven’t heard his comments, but we are setting records environmentally.”
Asked about his plans, Mr Trump said: “Tomorrow we go to Normandy and I’ll be leaving from Doonbeg, I am staying here overnight, and I thought this would be the best place, to come to in Ireland and stay at Doonbeg.”
Mr Trump denied that he was promoting his golf resort by staying at Doonbeg.
“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.”
Asked if he will give Irish citizens access to the E3 visa, Mr Trump said: “We are looking at that, we almost made it last time, it was one vote, we are looking at that, I am sure that is something we are going to discuss, I spoke to the one vote, who is a great senator by the way, he really is, he’s a great senator, and we think we are going to be successful.
“He’s a terrific person, he doesn’t mean to do any harm, that I can tell you, he was telling me he loves Ireland actually, so I think we are going to be in great shape.
“We had just about a unanimous vote and if we get a unanimous vote we do something that they have been trying to do for a long time, so I want to do that for the people of Ireland, but I want to do that for the people that are in the United States that want this vote to happen that happen to be of Irish descent.”