Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
SIMON HARRIS HAS said that US President Joe Biden has been the “voice of reason” amid global crises such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the pandemic.
Biden today announced he would not seek re-election.
In a lengthy statement, the Taoiseach thanked him for his leadership and “friendship”.
“The world has changed since President Biden’s victory in 2020 and we have had to face extraordinary challenges from a global pandemic to the return of war to the continent of Europe with the horrific full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia which has deliberately targeted and killed innocent civilians.
President Biden has been a voice for reason, effective multilateralism and shared solutions.
“He and the United States recognised early on that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine was not merely an illegal invasion of a neighbour by a permanent member of the UN Security Council, but an attack on international law and democratic freedom.
“As President Biden has himself said many times, Russia will not stop with Ukraine.
While the pair have not met, Harris recounted a phone call with the US President last month in which they discussed Biden’s “plans for a ceasefire in Israel’s war in Gaza”.
“This plan remains the only way on the table to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, release hostages and allow aid to flow freely. I am glad the President will continue his focus on this in the weeks and months ahead.”
On his career as a whole, Harris said Biden has been an “unwavering voice and passionate worker for peace on the island of Ireland”.
Our country owes him a great debt for this.
“On a personal level,” Harris continued, “President Biden is a proud American with an Irish soul. When he arrived into Belfast, Louth and Mayo last year he himself said it was like coming home.
“The outpouring of love and support from the public, even in the pouring Irish rain, from Carlingford to Ballina was testament to how highly the President is held in his ancestral home.”
Biden’s connection to Ireland comes on his maternal side through two families: the Blewitts of Ballina, Co Mayo and the Finnegans on the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth.
Biden, who is 81-years-old, came under pressure from both friends and foes to exit the race and make way for a younger candidate in hopes of defeating Trump, who is the Republican runner again.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin reacted to Biden’s departure from the race with “both sadness and admiration”.
In a post to X, he shared photos of him with the US President, describing him as an “abiding friend of Ireland”.
“His visit last year will long be remembered as a powerful & joyous celebration of our relationship with the US This has no doubt been the toughest of calls, but one done, as ever, with dignity & class. I know that the people of Ireland will wish President Biden the very best.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Biden was the VOICE of war.
So many unnecessary deaths & destruction under his reign.
Thankfully, the President of Peace is returning November 5th & peace & stability will return.
There’s so much similarity between “Ghandi”, “Mandela” & President Trump its uncanny.
ROLL ON NOVEMBER 5th
Trump+ Vance….. The A TEAM
@Buster Lawless: I just spit out my tea… Thanks for the laughs
@Buster Lawless: you changed your name from Kevin Mc Carthy? https://jrnl.ie/6311991. Come back on Nov 5th because I want to see you cry like you cried in 2020 and the meltdown from the jan 6th patriots was bliss. There will be a NEW and young energetic democract, like JFK, who will bring us so much peace it will be beautiful. #SaveDemocracy2024
@9QRixo8H: weird comment, I was Never speaker of the US house of representatives.. But thanks for the compliment!!!! Are you the resident conspiracy theorist???….. I recall you saying two horrific murders on an island in Carribbean was the work of the anti immigration protesters in Dublin ….. Seriously, is this Jim Corr?????
@Buster Lawless: Ken is back
@Buster Lawless:
Search Youtube or google “Katie Johnson’s full testimony of 2/11/16″
Share and post on social media. (I believe that’s the Jane Doe referred to in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations#Jane_Doe_(1994)
@Clare Power: ask the Palestinians what they of Biden
@Buster Lawless: Please tell me how the A TEAM is going to help Ukraine. Bending the country over a barrel for further rodgering perhaps?
Predictable comments from that Sliebheen Harris.
Ask Joe about his family invested reasons in Ukraine and ask Harris as to why he claims to be speaking on my behalf,,,!
He was the voice of war
@Ooooooooooo: Has to be Putin for that crown no?
It’s true. He never panicked when he had no awareness of recent experiences or his present surroundings.
He was an apologist for, and an enabler for, a modern genocide. Horrible man
@James Groden: well said ! The genocide in Gaza says it all! Couldn’t be done without the US. All his cabinet have Zionist connections except the Secretary of Defense. As Biden says – you don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist- I’m proud to be one ! Says it all !!
@Margret Walsh: there is no genocide in Gaza. Stop believing the pro hamas propaganda from the Irish media .
@frank dowling: The facts contradict you. Call it genocide or just mass slaughter, cruelty and abuse: Israel and the US have an awful lot of Palestinian blood on their hands.
@frank dowling: any unarmed nation being slaughtered by another with high tech weapons is a genocide ! Plus they are starving them too . Polio is rife through the region now. Remember this is happening in their OWN country !! I suppose you deny the fact that over 16,000 children have been killed and thousands more injured without any medical help available! Isreal a despicable country with over 100 UN Resulations against it. The US just as bad – Completely run by Zionists !
Bidens administration is supporting war crimes committed by the terrorist state of Israel
@Chris Lane: he’s supporting the democratic state of Israel in response to the genocidal attacked launched by Hamas terrorists on October 7th
@Pat Hazzard: hardly just a response now pat was it, they used it as an excuse to cause genocide and a famine
@Pat Hazzard: so the issues in the middle east only started on October 7? You not following the current apartheid going on in the West Bank and against the Palestinians in general for decades
@Pat Hazzard: totally agree He supplied massive amounts of Arms to Israel He has blood on his hands
@Pat Hazzard: get real, there is 45 thousand dead in Palastine this is genocide 16 thousand children alone they are left with nothing no food, medicine or shelter, Biden has a lot to answer supplying arms to Isreal How does he sleep at night
Mr Harris do you think you are competent enough tonight to be commenting on other world leaders and their well been when your country as leader elected by your members elected by people of this country, this country is in disarray in every department, you must know this it’s every where to see, take the blindfold off and get your house in order.
Well done Harris, excellent brown nosing skills there, almost a pro at it now. Maybe you should consider reducing the waffle by about 90%, you might actually say something useful once in a while.
The pathetic grovelling and brown nosing we saw from the Irish establishment during the visit of Biden and his obnoxious son was truly something to behold, a captured vassal state rolling out the red carpet for its colonial overlords, embarrassing is putting it mildly!
An excellent leader
Why are people posting comments on here suggesting that Trump as President would be any less pro Israel than Biden?
As President he recognised Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights and the country’s capital as Jerusalem.
He has also pledged defend Western civilization from “…the barbarians and savages and fascists that you see now trying to do harm to our beautiful Israel”.
@Paddy Whelan:
The relationship between the US and Israel is definitely a case of the tail wagging the dog,hardly surprising when Zionists have an iron grip on politics,the media and Wall Street!Is that anti-semitic? At this stage of the game who knows,or even cares,it’s a documented ,inarguable fact!
@Paddy Whelan: Its what Biden has done supplying massive arms to Isreal causing cruel deaths distruction, Starvation 16 thousand children dead , its heart renching to watch everyday & nothing being done about it, Biden kept the weapens going & i have no time for him, ,
So funny. Pair jokers
FG could learn reasonable lessons from him
a voice of what??? ridiculous
Did the “Black Man” tell Simon that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnmGQl926qU
Cannot say a word about Biden having a speech deficiency but I certainly say that it is extremely difficult to understand the Kerry Lads when they get excited in the Dáil !
@vxQ6cYzh: if you cannot say a word about it then you must suffer the same condition
have your say