The Taoiseach has told Joe Biden to expect a big welcome when he arrives in Ireland next month.
Leo Varadkar is meeting with the US President at the White House this afternoon as part of his St Patrick’s Day trip to Washington DC.
At the start of the meeting, President Biden said he was looking forward to discussing the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
Joe Biden and Leo Varadkar meeting at the White House. Biden says he’s looking forward to discussing the Good Friday Anniversary. While Varadkar said he foresees a big welcome for Biden to Ireland next month pic.twitter.com/WOj9BpJJWL
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) March 17, 2023
Mr Varadkar started by speaking As Gaeilge for around 30 seconds to the US President.
He then went on to say he foresees a big welcome for President Biden when he travels to Ireland to celebrate the anniversary.
“I’m really looking forward to your visit,” he said.
“I promise you that we’re going to roll out the red carpet and it is going to be a visit like no other.
“Everyone is excited about it already. We’re going to have great crowds that would love to see you and I look forward to talking about some of the details a bit later.”
White House.
Green fountain.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! pic.twitter.com/UXcxYTVMev
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 17, 2023
President Biden said millions of Americans of Irish heritage look forward to St Patrick’s Day every year.
“We have a joke from an event that I used to do and is now done up on the hill,” he said.
“We say, we invite all the friends of Ireland. All the Irish members of Congress and those who wish they were.”
He also thanked The Taoiseach for standing together on Ukraine with the US, noting that it means a great deal speaking out against Russia’s brutal aggression”.
