President Joe Biden was warned not to make any big gaffes in Ireland about the war with England. But he did anyway. And it was a doozy. Biden made reference to British forces that persecuted Irish people instead of a New Zealand rugby team while delivering a speech yesterday.
Speaking about Irish former international rugby player Rob Kearney, who is the president’s fifth cousin, Biden called him “a hell of a rugby player and he beat the hell out of the Black and Tans.”
Biden meant to say New Zealand’s “All Blacks” the nation’s top-ranked rugby team. Instead, Biden said the “Black and Tans,” the nickname for members of the brutal Royal Irish Constabulary, who fought against the Irish and committed atrocities during the Irish War of Independence 100 years ago.
THE PRESIDENT: I’m so proud to be here, so proud to be in Louth, so proud to be with — I don’t want to ruin their reputation, but — (whispering) — the Kearneys are relatives. (Laughter.)
We take great faith.
And the closing comment I make:
You see this tie I have with this shamrock on it?
This was given to me by one of these guys right here.
He was a hell of a rugby player, and he beat the hell out of the Black and Tans [All Blacks]. Oh, God. (Laughter.)
But — but it was when you — or it’s Solider Field.
Wasn’t it, the game?
PARTICIPANT: Chicago.
THE PRESIDENT: Chicago. And after it was all over, he gave my brother — allegedly for me, but if it wasn’t,
I still took it. I still got the tie. I wear it with great pride.
In yet another incoherent babble at an Irish pub Joe Biden speaks of his delight at Ireland beating the “hell out of the Black and Tans”.
He meant the All Blacks of New Zealand.
The Black and Tans were a British unit during the 1919-21 Irish independence war.
Utter embarrassment. pic.twitter.com/MBzCBOMVsG— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) April 13, 2023
Doesn’t take long for Joe Biden to become an embarrassment in Ireland🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/vlZpwSSQ6I
— • ᗰISᑕᕼIᗴᖴ ™ • (@4Mischief) April 13, 2023
DANA PERINO: “The President’s going away for 5 days to Belfast, will not take any questions from the press. So, at this point, why is the White House Press Corps going?”
Biden is currently spending 5 days in Ireland and still has yet to visit East Palestine, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/tnDOuCnHAG
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 12, 2023