Vice President Mike Pence, a noted opponent of LGBT rights, met Ireland’s first gay prime minister Thursday, according to footage of the awkward encounter tweeted by reporter Shane Beatty.
Soon after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner, Matt Barrett, arrived at Pence’s residence, Varadkar can be seen stepping to the side, forcing Pence to speak with his partner instead.
Although the conversation is largely inaudible in the video, The Irish Times [1] reports Varadkar eventually told Pence that he’s proud to lead a country where he’s judged on his policies, not on his “sexual orientation or skin tone,” reportedly adding that “We are, after all, all God’s children.”
The meeting with Pence begins Varadkar’s second day in Washington, D.C., where he also met with Donald Trump.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner, Matt Barrett, arriving for breakfast here at the US Vice President Mike Pence’s residence in Washington. Quite a significant moment… pic.twitter.com/WRZaUwkAuH [2]
— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) March 14, 2019 [3]
Twitter had a field day:
How long do you think @VP [4] spent washing his hands after that handshake?
— Evan (@evanomglol) March 14, 2019 [5]
I see he brought his LIFE PARTNER
GUESS That is why MOTHER did NOT attend
She was back at BIGOT school today— Bernard Murray (@bkm919) March 14, 2019 [6]
Leo Varadkar taking his boyfriend to the White House to meet Mike Pence is the pick me up we all needed today pic.twitter.com/BYUNVOHuDE [7]
— James (@brinning_) March 14, 2019 [8]
Find someone who looks at you the way Pence looks at Leo’s boyfriend
— Tony Jackson (@JacksonT0ny) March 14, 2019 [9]
But where is Mrs Pence? Washing her hair perhaps? ( That lady is his sister apparently)
— Alistair Martin???? (@Al_toMyFriends) March 14, 2019 [10]
Really hope Leo’s boyfriend is pinching Pence’s bottom with his right hand… ????
— helen ayres (@Raphaelite_Girl) March 14, 2019 [11]
Pence's little face, he doesn't know what to say…
— John Melfyn ???????????????????????????? (@john_melfyn) March 14, 2019 [12]