Philip Ryan: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar can follow Enda Kenny’s example in speaking truth to power at White House shamrock ceremony

Enda Kenny with Donald Trump at the White House in 2017. Photo: Getty

Philip Ryan

The talk in Enda Kenny’s office before his White House meeting with then US president Donald Trump was all about the handshake. The controversial businessman had a made a habit of embarrassing world leaders with an overpowering grip. He led UK prime minister ­Theresa May around the White House like a child, while other leaders practically had their arms yanked off.

It was a testing time for the former ­taoiseach. The vultures in Fine Gael were surrounding what they saw as the corpse of his political career and a wrong move would only give them further ammunition in their plot to oust him. The Kenny team discussed at length what they should do if Trump came at him with his vice-like bear paw. Eventually, Kenny told them, “Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan”, and no more was said on the matter.