US president Joe Biden has been criticised after he made an unusual comment during a St Patrick’s Day speech.
The President of the United States, who has Irish ancestry as his great-great-grandfather is from County Mayo, was captured giving a speech to celebrate the day, but his comment about being Irish caused a stir online.
The aim of his speech was to promote the relationship enjoyed between the USA and Ireland, although Taoiseach Micheál Martin was unable to attend the event after contracting Covid-19.
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At the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon in the Capitol Building, Biden commented: "I may be Irish, but I'm not stupid."
His full statement was: "Bless me father, for I'm about to sin. I just want you to know, I may be Irish, but I'm not stupid.
“I married Dominic Giacoppa's daughter."
Naturally, some have said that he’s suggesting Irish people are stupid, and while he might just be trying to make a point by riffing on a tired old stereotype – ill-advised at the best of times – it’s definitely made him look like a right eejit.
Later in his address, he said: “Like so many Americans of Irish heritage, I love Ireland and I was raised in a circumstance where you would have thought my whole family — none of — they came in 1844 and 1845, but you’d think they’d all lived in Ireland the last 60 years — the previous 60 years."
“As I was talking to Taoiseach today, the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day think that — Irish Americans think they’re more Irish than the Irish, and that’s kind of how I was raised, like so many Americans of Irish heritage — like other people of other heritage as well.
“I was imbued in me to be proud of my heritage.
“The pride that was passed down to generations of our family, even though they’ve been here since the mid-1800s.”
However, that didn’t smooth things over for some people.
In response to the speech, one person said: "Inspirational message to Irish-Americans: #HappyStPatricksDay — you buncha STUPIDS."
Another said: "Biden: 'I may be Irish, but I’m not stupid.' Personally I think I have my own opinion about that statement."
A third wrote: "Inferring people of Irish heritage are stupid without calling them stupid...Sad example for an American... SMH."
Elsewhere in his message, Biden praised Ireland’s response to the war in Ukraine, stating that the two countries share a ‘common goal’ of future peace and security.
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Tom Wood