When Donald Trump last visited this country, Leo Varadkar was Taoiseach.

They met in Shannon and the opening moments of their private meeting were dominated by an unlikely topic.

At the time, the US president was having a social media spat with the actress Bette Midler. The former taoiseach recalls trying to “steer him off” that subject and on to more serious matters before the cameras came in.

Indeed, in a recent interview with Colette Fitzpatrick, Mr Varadkar offered this searing insight into Donald Trump.

“While he is an intelligent man, and nobody should underestimate him, he’s not knowledgeable.

“So, it’s a very strange combination of somebody who’s quite bright, manipulative, knows how to push buttons, [and] knows how to get people on side.

“Yet at the same time, has very little knowledge of how the world or anything works, and that’s a very strange combination. I think quite a dangerous one,” he said.

That is the enigma which the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Catherine Connolly will have to contend with next week.

As ever, it poses a diplomatic challenge even if the US President is primarily here for the hosting of the Irish Open golf tournament at his resort in Doonbeg.

Twice Micheál Martin has navigated these choppy waters when he visited Washington.

The approach he took in the first encounter was somewhat reserved, but he emerged largely unscathed.

Earlier this year he adopted a more combative stance when he pointed to a trading relationship which was mutually beneficial, and he even leapt to the defence of the then British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.

That latter act almost saw him chide Mr Trump, even if it was veiled with praise for his abilities to get along with other world leaders when he wants to.

This time Mr Martin is the host, and his greeting message is likely to lean heavily on the historic bonds linking Ireland and the US.

The aim will be to avoid anything that could jeopardise the future of the major US companies paying billions of euro in tax here annually.

The Taoiseach has consistently stated that the maintenance of high employment rates is a core priority for the Government.

Over 60% of people did not want Trump invited here

But outside the walls of the securely locked down Phoenix Park, many protesters will oppose Donald Trump’s visit.

It is worth remembering too that an opinion poll last February indicated that 61% of people did not want the Government to invite Mr Trump here.

In the words of the People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, the demonstration will highlight the need to “break from our position of subservience to the US empire”.

Mr Trump will next Saturday morning make a courtesy call to Áras an Uactaráin.

It is set to be a brief meeting and outwardly at least there is no concern in Government that President Connolly could trigger a diplomatic incident, and she is viewed as a “safe pair of hands.”

Afterall, she did say during the presidential election campaign that she would meet and greet the US President.

But she had also said on RTÉ’s This Week that he was “volatile, unpredictable, [and] acting like a bully, bringing in tariffs when it suits him.”

Plus, there is an expectation among some of those who backed her candidacy from day one that she will take a firm position when she chats with Mr Trump over tea and biscuits.

Mr Murphy told RTÉ’s Drivetime he had every confidence that Ms Connolly would put the position of the Irish people to the US President.

He believes this is a stance that opposes “warmongering, to support peace rather than war, to defend Ireland’s neutrality, [and] to oppose his agenda of tearing up climate and environmental regulations”.

Whatever way you look at it, and notwithstanding the constitutional constraints of the Office of President, these are two people with diametrically opposed views, and that will surely create some tension.

There will also be a 30-to-45-minute meeting with the Taoiseach in the nearby Farmleigh House.

Right now, there is a possibility of a joint press conference afterwards, but that has not been “firmed up yet”.

But Mr Trump is expected to deliver a speech at the residence of the US Ambassador, also located in the Phoenix Park.

Given his tendency to reignite seemingly dormant contentious issues, this could prove an awkward moment for the Government, before the fun part of the trip commences in Co Clare.

It may be a short and informal visit, but it is still something of a diplomatic high wire act.

Completing the task while avoiding political damage will be the aim of the Government.

Who knows, they might even be minded to follow the Oscar Wilde philosophy, which advises that in matters of great importance, style and not sincerity is the most important thing.