Donald Trump has raised eyebrows by comparing his planned wall between the United States and Mexico with the post-Brexit border situation in Ireland.
Speaking about the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, alongside Irish premier Leo Varadkar yesterday, the US president said: “I think that it will all work out, it will all work out very well and also for you, with your wall, your border.”
He added: “I mean, we have a border situation in the United States. And you have one over here, but I hear it’s going to work out very well.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Varadkar quickly reminded Trump that Ireland wants to avoid a hard border with Northern Ireland after Brexit. Trump replied: “The way it works now is good and I think you want to try and keep it that way.”
The Irish Times says there was a “Melania-like quality” to Varadkar’s “sangfroid in face of Trump’s witless remarks”, while Irish News said the “gaffe” came because Trump was “badly briefed”.
Later, Varadkar said he had explained to Trump the “different nature” of the two border debates. He said: “I explained... that everyone in Ireland - north and south, unionist and nationalist - want to avoid a return to a hard border, but that Brexit is a threat in that regard and an unintended consequence that we can’t allow.”
He added: “There are nearly 200 countries in the world. I don’t think it’s possible for him to have an in-depth and detailed understanding of all the issues in every single country.”
Meanwhile, Trump has denied that his two-day visit to Ireland is purely a public relations exercise for his golf resort in Doonbeg, County Clare, saying he is “honoured” to be in the country. He added that the relationship between Ireland and the US is “as good as it’s ever been, maybe better”.
He said that there were “millions” of Irish people in the US and added: “I think I know most of them because they’re my friends. We love the Irish, so it’s an honour to be here.”
-
Heavenly spectacle in the wilds of CanadaThe Week Recommends ‘Mind-bending’ outpost for spotting animals – and the northern lights
-
Facial recognition: a revolution in policingTalking Point All 43 police forces in England and Wales are set to be granted access, with those against calling for increasing safeguards on the technology
-
Codeword: December 14, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Pakistan: Trump’s ‘favourite field marshal’ takes chargeIn the Spotlight Asim Munir’s control over all three branches of Pakistan’s military gives him ‘sweeping powers’ – and almost unlimited freedom to use them
-
Is Europe finally taking the war to Russia?Today's Big Question As Moscow’s drone buzzes and cyberattacks increase, European leaders are taking a more openly aggressive stance
-
Pushing for peace: is Trump appeasing Moscow?In Depth European leaders succeeded in bringing themselves in from the cold and softening Moscow’s terms, but Kyiv still faces an unenviable choice
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
South Africa wraps up G20 summit boycotted by USSpeed Read Trump has been sparring with South Africa in recent months
-
Trump pushes new Ukraine peace planSpeed Read It involves a 28-point plan to end the war
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
