IRISH President Catherine Connolly presented Donald Trump with a St Brigid’s Cross – recognised as a symbol of peace – during his brief courtesy call.
He was also given a collection of poems which contained the famous Michael Longley sonnet Ceasefire.
Considering Connolly was a long-standing critic of Trump before she took up office, the choice of gifts may be considered as pointed.
The visit of the US President to Áras an Uachtaráin was pinpointed as one of the parts of his two-day visit to Ireland most likely to be scrutinised.
Connolly, an independent TD before she was elected president, had previously accused Trump of being “volatile” and “acting like a bully”, and was critical of his actions in the Middle East.
For his part, Trump mistakenly referred to Ms Connolly as “he” when asked about critical comments she made against him in relation to the US-Israeli war against Iran in the Oval Office on St Patrick’s Day this year.
Considering the context, the meeting of the two presidents on Saturday morning was always likely to present her most substantial diplomatic test since assuming office.
As it was, the engagement, heavy on ceremony, passed off without major incident.
Trump’s substantial motorcade rolled through Phoenix Park shortly after 9am.
He emerged from his car to shake Ms Connolly’s hand before the pair smiled while briefly posing for photographs.
Connolly stood at the end of the steps in the Portico to greet Mr Trump and then led the American president down the Francini corridor and into the state reception room.
Ms Connolly, a long-standing critic of the US president, invited him to sign the visitors’ book in the state reception room.
They then proceeded to the drawing room and into a hallway where Mr Trump was introduced to dignitaries.
They then went back outside, where Trump stood to attention while the national anthems of the US and Ireland were played.
The US president then inspected a guard of honour before Connolly introduced him to a delegation of Irish dignitaries including Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy.
Trump then introduced Connolly to his delegation, including his son Donald Jr and some of his grandchildren.
