Yesterday, President Trump called Leo Varadkar, the newly-elected Prime Minister of Ireland, to congratulate him on his victory.
The president's phone call to Ireland's first openly gay leader comes at the end of month that has seen the Trump Administration regularly criticized for its apathetic treatment of the LGBTQ community. President Trump failed to recognize June as Pride month, and the White House statement for National HIV Testing Day neglected to mention the LGBTQ community's contributions in the fight against AIDS.
Related | Trump Ignores LGBTQ Community in Statement for National HIV Testing Day
"I just want to congratulate you. That was a great victory that you had," Trump said as members of the press watched on.
Varadkar, 38, is also the youngest person to become prime minister of Ireland and the first person from an ethnic minority background to the hold position. His father immigrated to Ireland from India.
During the 15-minute conversation, the leaders discussed Brexit and climate change. While the President didn't specifically address Varadkar's achievement in becoming Ireland's first openly gay prime minister, Trump's congenial manner might be an early indicator of a positive shift in his public attitude towards the LGBTQ community.
Trump ended the conversation with an invitation for Varadkar to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day at the White House next year. Whether Varadkar accepts this invitation remains to be seen.
