Joe Biden has risked fresh fury from unionists after saying he visited Ireland to stop Rishi Sunak “f***ing up” the Good Friday Agreement.
The president of the United States, who was harshly criticized for his partisan stance during his trip, presented his thoughts yesterday at a Democratic event in New York.
“I had to go back to Ireland for the Irish Agreements, to make sure they weren’t Irish, that the British didn’t get it wrong and that Northern Ireland didn’t stray from its commitments,” he said.
Biden was branded “anti-British” after making only a quick visit to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement last month, before an extensive tour of the Republic, where he often boasts of having roots.
He also sparked more anger by skipping King Charles’ coronation last weekend and sending first lady Jill Biden instead.
Joe Biden has risked fresh fury from unionists after saying he visited Ireland to stop Rishi Sunak “f***ing up” the Good Friday Agreement.
The US president was harshly criticized for his partisan stance during his trip
He was also criticized for saying during a speech that a distant relative of a rugby star “beat up the Black and Tans”.
That was a British auxiliary police force in the 1920s, hated by the IRA, although the White House insisted it was simply mixing them up with the New Zealand All Blacks team.
Biden also posed for a selfie with Gerry Adams and chastised the UK for not cooperating more closely with Ireland on Brexit.
His ‘Beast’ limousine flew the Irish flag in Dublin, but not the Union Jack in Belfast.
Before setting off on his visit to Belfast, Biden insisted his priority was “keeping the peace” in Northern Ireland.
Former DUP leader Baroness Foster was among those who questioned Biden’s impartiality on tensions between Northern Ireland and the Republic..
US officials denied that Biden, who has dashed hopes for a transatlantic trade deal, is “anti-British”.
Biden and Sunak had tea during their flying visit to Northern Ireland last month.
Joe Biden skipped the King’s coronation last weekend and sent his wife Jill instead.
Cynics have suggested that Biden’s numerous glowing references to his Irish ancestry are related to the impending US election campaign.
When asked about the US president’s comment, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “You will know that, obviously, the Windsor Framework was the culmination of substantial work between the UK and the EU, and ultimately the UK’s priority has always been to protect Good Friday. Agreement.
“We have been consistent on that point throughout and we are pleased that between the UK and the EU we have been able to reach an agreement that works for the people of Northern Ireland and for the whole of the UK.”