Joe Biden Dublin visit: Taoiseach meeting and Trinity College surprise

Taoiseach shares details after meeting Joe Biden in Dublin

The former US president had arrived in Dublin earlier that day, with The Irish Times reporting that he sat down with Martin to discuss a number of political issues. 

A Government spokesperson confirmed that the Northern Ireland peace process was among the subjects raised.

Biden was also reportedly interested in Ireland's upcoming EU presidency and the European Political Community meeting scheduled to take place in Dublin this week. 

Martin later posted about their meeting on social media, pointing to Biden's "strong Irish roots and previous visits" and his "lifelong support for Ireland".

‘There is no excuse’

The main public event involving the Biden family took place at Trinity College, where Hunter received a gold medal from the College Historical Society, known as The Hist. 

The society honoured him for his "outstanding contribution to public discourse".

The ceremony took an unexpected turn when his father walked into the exam hall without being announced. 

People in the audience quickly recognised the former president, prompting applause as he took a seat at the front.

Hunter then answered questions from attendees, speaking candidly about the war in Gaza.

He described Israel's military campaign as "mass murder" and said he believed the situation was completely unacceptable.

He also discussed the weapons supplied to Israel during his father's presidency, acknowledging that the administration had continued those deliveries. 

Hunter said his father had "tried to make the best decisions at the time with the information that he had".

"I totally agree that what is happening in Gaza, particularly right now, is absolutely and completely wrong, and there is no excuse for it," Hunter Biden told the audience. "I know this man, and I know he attempted more than anyone to curtail and stop it."