Irish Biden goes green at St Patrick's Day meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar trends now
Joe Biden welcomed Leo Varadkar to the White House for St. Patrick's Day on Friday as the Irish leader vowed to roll out the red carpet for the president's upcoming visit.
Biden, who is proud of his Irish roots, which is where his great, great grandfather was born, said he is looking forward to visiting Ireland 'soon.'
'It’s good to have you back in the Oval Office, Taoiseach. It’s a big day in my grandparents' household, our household, big day here,' he said.
Varadkar said the entire Irish Republic was looking forward to seeing Biden. The president is expected to travel there next month to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday accord.
'I promise you that we're going to roll out the red carpet and it's going to be visit like no other. Everyone's excited about already,' the taoiseach said.
Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told President Joe Biden his country was looking forward to welcoming him for a visit
The White House went green for the occasion. The water in the fountain on the North Lawn was dyed green, shamrocks decorated the Oval Office and the president sported a green tie with white dots.
Green is the theme of the day amid a packed-schedule of holiday-related activities that included an Oval Office meeting, a luncheon on Capitol Hill hosted by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Irish eggs for breakfast with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Varadkar's visit comes after Biden said he plans to visit both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland next month, which marks the 25th anniversary of the U.S.-brokered Good Friday accord.
The agreement helped end sectarian violence that had raged for three decades over whether Northern Ireland should unify with Ireland or remain part of the United Kingdom.
'I want to acknowledge the central role which the US has played in the peace process on our island, driving it forward and critical points,' Varadkar said Friday morning during his meeting with Harris.
The fountain on the North Lawn of the White House is dyed green for St. Patrick's Day
Spectators on O'Connell Bridge as they watch the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin
Ahead of his meeting with Biden, Varadkar, known as the taoiseach, and his partner Matthew Barrett visited the Naval Observatory for breakfast with Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. 'Eggs St. Patrick' were on the menu. It's an Irish twist on Eggs Benedict.
Harris wore a green
