Trump celebrates St. Patrick’s day on Twitter

by John Bowden - 03/17/18 11:49 AM ET

President Trump marked St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday with a tweet showing the White House fountain dyed emerald green, a tradition begun by the Obama administration in 2009.

In a tweet Saturday morning, Trump wished the nation a “Happy #StPatricksDay” and included a photo of the northern White House fountain, which has been dyed green for at least the past two days in celebration of the holiday.

Happy #StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/4vVsW2smhB

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018

The U.S. Embassy in Vienna also tweeted a picture of the fountain on Friday, and quoted the president’s remarks made during a visit from Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.

“The #Shamrock has become a symbol of the long and beautiful relationship between the American and Irish peoples.” – @POTUS and @FLOTUS welcomed Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to the @WhiteHouse (with fountain in green) yesterday. #StPatricksDay #IrishAmericanHeritageMonth pic.twitter.com/Wyf9PqUVX2

— U.S. Embassy Vienna (@usembvienna) March 16, 2018

Dyeing the White House fountain green appears to be one of the few traditions followed by the Obama administration that the president has embraced wholeheartedly.

Former first lady Michelle Obama first arranged for the water in the fountains on the north and south lawns of the White House to be dyed green in 2009, inspired by celebrations in her home city of Chicago, Fox News reported at the time.

{mosads}

“It’s a little piece of home for our new home,” the first lady’s spokeswoman said in 2009.

The tweet on Saturday is Trump’s first since he celebrated the ouster of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was fired late Friday by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

“Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI – A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!” Trump tweeted just after midnight.