White House clarifies Biden's 'screw it up' swipe at Britain trends now
The White House on Thursday clarified President Joe Biden's remark that he was in Ireland to keep the Brits from screwing around on the Good Friday Agreement, telling DailyMail.com that he 'deeply appreciates' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's work on the issue.
Biden caused outage across the pond with his remarks Wednesday night at a Democratic fundraiser, where he said of his April trip to Ireland: 'I got to go back to Ireland for the Irish Accords, to make sure they weren't—the Brits didn't screw around and Northern Ireland didn't walk away from their commitments.'
The off-hand comment resulted in fury among the British, who defended Sunak's work in delicate post-Brexit trade negotiations.
The White House didn't see Biden's remark as a dig at the prime minister.
White House had to clarify President Joe Biden's remark that he was in Ireland to keep the Brits from screwing around on the Good Friday Agreement,
'As the President said in Belfast, he deeply appreciates Prime Minister Sunak's leadership in reaching an agreement with the EU on the Windsor Framework and preserving the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement,' said National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge in a statement to DailyMail.com.
But the remark also reupped talk Biden is 'anti-British' after he made only a flying visit to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement last month, before an extensive tour of the Republic - where he often boasts of having roots.
He also provoked more anger by skipping the coronation of King Charles last weekend, instead sending First Lady Jill Biden.
Asked about Biden's remark, the PM official spokesman said: 'You will know that, obviously, the Windsor Framework was a culmination of substantive work between the UK and the EU, and at its heart the UK priority was always protecting the Good Friday Agreement.
'We have been consistent on that point throughout and we are pleased that between the UK and the EU we have been able to reach an agreement that works for the people of Northern Ireland, and for the whole of the UK.'
But Biden's comment drew fire from the Democratic Unionists, the main pro-British party in Northern Ireland.
'It's unbelievable and frightening to think this man is the leader of the free world,' said DUP spokesman Sammy Wilson. 'If you believe that there should be a special relationship between the U.S. and U.K., then at least show us some respect.'
Biden has long cared about the Good Friday Agreement,
