Carney recalls Trump’s ‘shooting’ joke during US visit

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

US President Donald Trump jokingly told Canada’s Prime Minister he would be shot if he used an honorary key to the White House, Mark Carney has revealed.

Carney told the anecdote to a crowd of hundreds of people in Co Mayo as he concluded a two-day visit to Ireland.

On Sunday evening, the chairman of Mayo County Council handed the visiting prime minister a civil scroll honouring his career and unofficial position as an ambassador of Mayo on the global stage.

At the event in Westport, Carney said: “To put this honour in context: About a year and a half ago, a little less than that, another great leader, Cathaoirleach, gave me a gift and he said ‘Mark, this is very special’.”

Continuing to mimic Trump’s voice and mannerisms, he added: “‘This is unique. It’s a key, it’s a key to the White House.

“‘No one else has it, no one else has it’.”

Carney said he asked the US president what the key would do and received the response: “Well, they’ll either let you in or they’ll shoot you. They’ll probably shoot you.”

Reflecting on the gift given to him on Sunday evening, he said: “With this honour. I know that every door in Mayo will be opened.”

He said he knew this was also true for those who do not get such honours, adding: “And that’s the true honour of this county and of this country.

“So thank you for that.”