Updated: March 16, 2018 at 9:41 AM

This week in Washington (49 images)

Local students participate in the National Walkout protest for school safety, seven thousand pairs of shoes are placed on the Capitol lawn to bring attention to gun violence and President Donald Trump makes comments on the recent departure of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the week of March 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., holds up a pint of Guinness as he proposes a toast during the Friends of Ireland luncheon at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. Photo by Alex Edelman/UPI

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Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Ireland (L) shakes hands with President Donald Trump during the Shamrock Bowl Presentation in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Alex Edelman/UPI

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Varadkar (L) presents Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump with a bowl of shamrocks. An Irish representative has been presenting the sitting U.S. president with shamrocks, at first in a box, now in a crystal bowl, each year since 1952. It's meant to be a symbol of the close relationship between the two countries as Americans celebrate Irish heritage on St. Patrick's Day. Photo by Alex Edelman/UPI

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Varadkar speaks during the Shamrock Bowl Presentation. Photo by Alex Edelman/UPI

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