Donald Trump's trip to Ireland 'postponed'

The Irish government says US President Donald Trump's visit has been postponed, but the White House says no final decision has been made on the November trip.

Leo Varadkar and Donald Trump

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar may no longer be greeting Donald Trump in Ireland in November. (AAP)

Donald Trump's plan to visit Ireland for the first time as US president this November has been cancelled for scheduling reasons, the Irish government says.

But the White House did not immediately confirm the cancellation, saying it was still finalising plans for Trump's November trip to Europe.

Trump announced in August he would travel to Ireland as part of a trip to Paris to attend the November 11 commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I.

A number of groups announced they would stage protests during Trump's visit.

The president had been expected to visit the capital Dublin and his golf resort in the west coast village of Doonbeg.

"The proposed visit of the US president is postponed," an Irish government spokesman told Reuters. "The US side has cited scheduling reasons."

But White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters that no final decision had been made.

"The president will travel to Paris in November as previously announced. We are still finalising whether Ireland will be a stop on that trip," Sanders said.

"As details are confirmed we will let you know."

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who as a cabinet minister opposed extending an invitation to Trump before later changing his mind, had described the trip as coming "a little bit out of the blue".

Ireland's opposition Green Party, which had opposed the trip, described the announcement and following cancellation as "erratic".

"Trump's positions and demeanour on every issue of the day, from climate to women's rights, from international relations to political decency, represent the opposite of ... Irish values," Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said.


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Source: AAP



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