Joe Biden has repeatedly mentioned his Irish ancestry and fondness for the nation, but not all of his lighthearted remarks have been favourably received.
As the US president visits Northern Ireland and Ireland, we look back at some of his contentious jokes and reactions to his previous remarks about Ireland.
‘Anyone wearing orange is not welcome.’
When then-Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny visited Mr Biden’s house in Washington on St Patrick’s Day in 2015, he cracked a joke.
“Anyone wearing orange is not welcome in… only kidding,” he said as they grinned for a picture.
Orange is the hue associated with Northern Ireland’s Protestant majority, whilst green is used as a symbol by primarily Catholic Irish nationalists.
The joke, which was made at the expense of the Orange Order, which includes Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MPs, drew anger from the DUP and blowback on social media.
Former DUP representative for South Antrim William McCrea said he enjoyed Mr Biden’s joke, but termed his remarks a “slur” and “disgraceful and careless.”
The party demanded that he apologise. According to an official from his office, he made it plain that it was a joke.
‘I’m Irish, but I’m not stupid.’
Last year, the president began a St. Patrick’s Day speech at the White House with a joke about his wife Jill and his Irish heritage.
“Father, before I begin – bless me, Father, for I’m about to sin…” he murmured. I just want you to know that, while I’m Irish, I’m not stupid. I married Dominic Giacoppa’s daughter [Jill Biden’s grandfather], so I guess I’m Italian now.”
several in the audience laughed, but his off-the-cuff statement about his own heritage left several unhappy, including Twitter users who expressed surprise that he would imply that people from Ireland are “stupid.”
This joke has been told by the president several times.
He jokingly stated that his relatives ‘weren’t really in jail.’
Recently, the US president even joked about meeting distant members of his Irish family.
“When I went over to Ireland, it was a great experience,” the 80-year-old told the audience. I’ve gone to Ireland several times, but never to hunt up – to locate my genuine family relatives.
“And there are so many – and they weren’t actually in jail.”
Biden is’really not Irish’ because he has ‘never taken a drink’.
The joke was well received by the audience, who laughed, and a second joke followed. “There’s still a place called Finnegan’s pub… that’s related to my family,” he said, recalling his stay.
“I’m the only Irishman you’ve ever met who hasn’t had a drink, so I’m fine.” “I’m not Irish at all.”
The president does not consume alcoholic beverages.
He then discussed his Irish ancestors on his mother’s side of the family, the Finnegans and the Blewitts.