Micheál Martin praises President Biden as an ‘abiding friend of Ireland’

Ireland’s Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) has expressed his heartfelt reaction to President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the US presidential race, describing it as a moment of both “sadness and admiration.”

President Biden’s visit to Ireland last year, which included addressing the Irish Parliament and tracing his ancestral roots in counties Louth and Mayo, was warmly received. The visit also saw him travel to Northern Ireland, where he met with then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast and participated in events at Ulster University.

In response to news of Biden’s decision, Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid tribute to the US President on social media, noting his enduring friendship and support for Ireland.

“I heard the news of President Biden’s decision with both sadness and admiration,” Martin wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “He has been an abiding friend of Ireland, providing invaluable support for peace and prosperity on this island.”

He continued, reflecting on Biden’s visit: “His visit last year will long be remembered as a powerful & joyous celebration of our relationship with the US.”

Martin also acknowledged the gravity of Biden’s decision, adding, “This has no doubt been the toughest of calls, but one done, as ever, with dignity and class. I know that the people of Ireland will wish President Biden the very best.”