US President Donald Trump has invited Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to the White House next year for the traditional celebration to mark St Patrick's Day.

The invite was issued during a phone call between the two leaders.

Mr Trump also congratulated the Taoiseach on his "great victory".

Mr Trump told Mr Varadkar: "Congratulations on your great victory. We have so many people from Ireland in this country – I know so many of them, I feel I know all of them.

"But I just wanted to congratulate you, that was a great victory that you had".

The call lasted 10 to 15 minutes and was described by a spokesperson for Mr Varadkar as "a wide-ranging call" which was "fruitful".

The spokesperson said the issue of a visit by Mr Trump to Ireland was not discussed, however both men agreed that the next time they would see each other would be in the White House next March.

Mr Varadkar raised the case of the undocumented Irish in the US and there was a discussion on climate change and trade.

Mr Trump was interested in discussing the peace process and the border post-Brexit, the Taoiseach's spokesperson said.

National Security Adviser HR McMaster and Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell were also in the room for the phone call.

During the phone call Mr Trump said that there were Irish press in the White House and called over RTÉ's Washington Correspondent Caitríona Perry to say hello to the Taoiseach.

Before speaking with the Taoiseach, Mr Trump also had a call with new French President Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Macron invited the US President to come to France on Bastille Day on 14 July, according to a statement from the Elysee Palace.

It also said both men agreed to work on a common response to Syria amid reports the Assad regime was preparing to carry out a chemical attack.