Mike Pence Meets With Ireland’s First Openly Gay Prime Minister

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 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 will also meet with President Trump.