Offbeat

Leo Varadkar promises Schwarzenegger: ‘I’ll be back’

Taoiseach meets the Terminator at the South by Southwest festival in Austin

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meets Arnold Schwarzenegger in Austin, Texas. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meets Arnold Schwarzenegger in Austin, Texas. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Sun Mar 11 2018 - 20:46

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has met Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, during his trip to the US for St Patrick's Day.

During their brief encounter, the Terminator actor and former California governor repeatedly pressed Mr Varadkar to visit him in Santa Monica in California.

“The question is are you coming to Santa Monica?” he asked. “I have been to Santa Monica many times,” Mr Varadkar replied.

The star told the Taoiseach he would be“always welcome” in the coastal city.

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"Ireland is going to open a consulate in LA next year," Mr Varadkar told him.

“You don’t have to wait that long – you come out earlier,” the former bodybuilder responded.

Mr Varadkar later tweeted that a “return trip [is] promised to Santa Monica. I’ll be back!” – PA