The White House has had to rectify another blunder by Joe Biden. During a visit to Ireland, the US president mistook the military for a rugby squad.
Biden was visiting a Dundalk pub on Wednesday night, on the first day of his three-day Ireland trip. He was given a tie by Rob Kearney, a distant cousin who still won with the Irish national side against New Zealand.
”I got this from one of those men here, ” Biden said. “He was a great rugby player. He has given the Black and Tans a lot of it.”
What Biden actually wanted to say was All Blacks-the nickname of the New Zealand national rugby team – and not Black and Tans. It was a painful mistake, as the latter is the name of a group of Irish servicemen who fought against the rebels in the Irish War of independence from 1919 to 1921.
The president’s blunder soon went viral. The Irish media were also not tender. “Blunder denies Biden’s charm offensive,” headlined The Times, for example. “Delightful blunder,” wrote The Irish Times, and according to Irish Mirror, those present burst out laughing.
The White House apologized Thursday for the blunder. On Thursday, Biden will meet with Irish president Michael D Higgins and speak in Parliament. On Friday, he will visit County Mayo.