With St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, President Joe Biden got to dwell Friday on one of his favorite subjects: Ireland. Biden played host to Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at the White House and then the two attended a luncheon at the U.S. Capitol as the two countries celebrate a century of diplomatic relations. The president wore a green necktie for Ireland and the Oval Office was decorated with a bowl of shamrocks placed in front of the fireplace.
Quick Read
- President Joe Biden celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, highlighting the century-long diplomatic ties between the US and Ireland.
- Biden, donning a green tie and with shamrocks decorating the Oval Office, expressed his fondness for the friendship between the two nations.
- At the Capitol’s “Friends of Ireland Luncheon” hosted by House Speaker Mike Johnson, Biden was dubbed “America’s most famous Irishman” and spoke on supporting Ukraine and providing aid to Israel and Gaza.
- Varadkar praised the US for its role in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and emphasized the importance of standing by Ukraine against Russian aggression.
- Biden’s deep connection to his Irish heritage was evident as he often quotes Irish poets and brings up Ireland in conversations with other world leaders.
- The celebration also included a virtual event by Biden’s campaign to engage Irish American voters, reflecting the significant Irish ancestry in the US, particularly in the Chicago area.
- President Joe Biden, during a meeting with Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, emphasized the need for further action in Gaza.
- Varadkar expressed his desire for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, aiming for immediate humanitarian relief and the release of hostages.
- Both leaders discussed the pursuit of a two-state solution as a pathway to enduring peace and security in the region, aligning with Biden’s support for this approach.
The Associated Press has the story:
Hosting Ireland’s prime minister, Biden celebrates his Irish roots as he likes to do
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP) —
With St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, President Joe Biden got to dwell Friday on one of his favorite subjects: Ireland. Biden played host to Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at the White House and then the two attended a luncheon at the U.S. Capitol as the two countries celebrate a century of diplomatic relations. The president wore a green necktie for Ireland and the Oval Office was decorated with a bowl of shamrocks placed in front of the fireplace.
“May the hinge of our friendship never grow rusty,” Biden said to the Irish prime minister.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., hosted the president and Varadkar for the annual “Friends of Ireland Luncheon” at the Capitol. Johnson introduced the president as “America’s most famous Irishman.” Biden used the event to push for foreign aid to support Ukraine as it fights against Russia and Israel as well as provide humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza.
Varadkar used his remarks at the luncheon to thank the United States for its work to bring peace between Ireland and Northern Ireland — part of the United Kingdom — with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. But he turned to the war in Ukraine, as the House has been unable to pass military aid for the country, much to Biden’s frustration.
“Ukraine must not fall and together, we need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Varadkar said. “We look forward to working with America for the next 100 years.”
Biden is nearly as fond of his Irish heritage as he is of his home state of Delaware and his birthplace of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He loves to quote the Irish poet Seamus Heaney, among others. He has delivered Irish toasts before formal dinners. He has routinely brought up Ireland with leaders from other foreign countries. He spoke at a pub last year while visiting Ireland, reveling in the chance to be there.
As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year while Biden visited that country, “Joe, one thing that everybody has learned about you is that you’re a proud Irish American.”
His campaign planned to hold a virtual event on Friday to mobilize Irish American voters in a sign of the Democrats’ interests. The Census Bureau has said that more than 30 million people in the U.S. claim Irish ancestry, with the largest group being in the Chicago area.
IRISH PRIME MINISTER TELLS BIDEN THAT CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA IS NEEDED TO GET AID IN AND HOSTAGES OUT
Newslooks- WASHINGTON — (AP)
President Joe Biden said Friday during an Oval Office chat with Ireland’s prime minister that “a whole lot more” needs to be done in Gaza.
Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told Biden he wanted discuss getting Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire “as soon as possible,” as well as how to go about achieving lasting peace by creating two states for the Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side.
“My view is that we need a cease-fire as soon as possible to get food and medicine in, to get the hostages out. We need to talk about how we can make that happen and move towards a two state solution,” Varadkar said.
Varadkar, who was in Washington for the upcoming March 17 St. Patrick’s Day holiday, said a two-state solution, also supported by Biden, is “the only way we’ll have lasting peace and security.”
