US President Joe Biden was reduced to tears tonight after Leo Varadkar paid tribute to his late son in a moving speech about leadership at the White House.
The Taoiseach is in Washington DC as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day engagements with US politicians.
US President Joe Biden was reduced to tears tonight after Leo Varadkar paid tribute to his late sonGetty Images – Getty
Biden holding a bowl of shamrocks gifted by the TaoiseachAlamy Live News
They both gave speeches to a crowd at the White HouseGetty Images – Getty
As part of the traditional shamrock ceremony, the Taoiseach and President Biden both gave speeches to a crowd of Irish Americans at the White House.
In a touching moment, the Taoiseach paid tribute to the President’s late son Beau Biden who passed away from cancer in 2015.
The Taoiseach said: “This week meeting so many proud Irish Americans about sacred promises and I’ve been thinking in particular of the words of one courageous Irish American, a lawyer and a decorated war hero who spoke so eloquently about the sacred promises we make as leaders.
“To quote his words: it is about the promises we make to our children who deserve a chance to succeed, the promises that we make to eachother, the sacred promise to work for a better future for all – those were the words of Beau Biden.
“When we are elected to office we each make a sacred promise.
“To our communities, our party, our country, to ourselves. And we dedicate ourselves to honour it, not always succeeding, but always doing our best no matter how challenging the circumstances.”
The crowd at the White House shamrock ceremony burst into applause after the Taoiseach mentioned Beau Biden’s name and President Biden looked solemnly at the stage before wiping tears away from his eyes as he became emotional.
President Biden’s eldest son Beau was a politician and lawyer before he died of glioblastoma at the age of 46 in 2015.
During his visit to Ireland last year, President Biden met the priest who gave his son the last rites before he passed while he was visiting the Knock Shrine in Co Mayo.
Joe Biden has previously said that his son Beau would have become the President of the US instead of him had he not passed away.
During his own speech at the shamrock ceremony, President Biden said that St Patrick’s Day is a day of unity in the US when deeply divided republicans and democrats can come together.
He said: “On this day, no matter if one hails from a red state or a blue state, they’re all green today.”
The President also said Ireland and the US will continue to stand together against Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
On the Middle East, the President called for a ceasefire and said there was only one path to peace as he backed a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Ceasefire call
Taoiseach Varadkar also called for a ceasefire in the Middle East and for Israel to stop dropping bombs on Gaza.
In his strongest speech in the US on Gaza, the Taoiseach said: “President Biden, when we met on Friday we spoke of our shared hope for Israeli and Palestinian States living side-by-side in peace and security.
“And I have always believed that America is a force for good in the world. You have helped to advance liberty and democracy around the globe.
“You saved Europe and the world from fascism in the 1940s and from communism after that.
“You stopped ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and Bosnia and helped bring peace to Ireland and unification to Germany. Today, you stand with us in our fight to save democracy and freedom in Ukraine.
‘Catastrophe unfolding’
“Mr President, as you know, the Irish people are deeply troubled about the catastrophe that’s unfolding before our eyes in Gaza.
“When I travel the world, leaders often ask me why the Irish have so much empathy for the Palestinian people.
“The answer is simple: we see our history in their eyes. A story of displacement and dispossession, a national identity questioned and denied, forced emigration, discrimination, and now – hunger.
“So we support your work, and that of your administration, to secure a humanitarian ceasefire and to create the space for lasting peace.
“The people of Gaza desperately need food, medicine and shelter. Most especially they need the bombs to stop. This has to stop. On both sides. The hostages brought home. And humanitarian relief allowed in.
‘100 years of violence’
“Israel must reverse its precipitous decision to authorise a land incursion into Rafah.
“And after 100 years of violence, as you said, the only secure future lies in two states peaceful and sovereign, side by side.
“Ireland stands ready to recognise a Palestinian state with like-minded partners when it is most helpful for peace.”
The Taoiseach and President Biden posed for the traditional shamrock photos in the White House in front of a crowd that included US and Irish politicians.
Irish WWE superstar Becky Lynch was also at the event along with Oscar-winning movie producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Logan whose company Element Pictures produced the Emma Stone hit Poor Things.
The Taoiseach paid tribute to the President’s late son Beau Biden who passed away from cancer in 20152024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
