Trump invites Ireland's new leader to WH for St. Pat's Day

US President Donald Trump spoke for the first time with Ireland's new Indian-origin prime minister, Leo Varadkar.

Trump yesterday congratulated Varadkar on his "great victory" during a portion of the telephone conversation that the White House opened up to reporters.

The White House said later that Trump invited Varadkar to visit for St Patrick's Day next year.

Varadkar, 38, is Ireland's youngest prime minister. He's the son of an Indian immigrant and the first openly gay politician in the post.

Varadkar is also a doctor who has held three previous Cabinet posts. He defeated a rival in a contest to replace Enda Kenny, who resigned.

Varadkar's rival won the most party-member votes. But Varadkar was backed by most lawmakers and local representatives, giving him a victory under the center-right Fine Gael party's electoral college system.

Victory in an electoral college system is something Trump understands. That's how he was elected president last November.

"I just want to congratulate you. That was a great victory that you had," Trump said.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)