Biden welcomes Irish prime minister on St. Patrick’s Day

By COLLEEN LONG and CHRIS MEGERIAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden donned a green tie and sported shamrocks in a chest pocket as he welcomed Ireland’s prime minister to the White House — two years after the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled the last St. Patrick’s Day meeting. Biden also said Friday that he plans to visit both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland this year. Meeting in the White House Oval Office, Biden and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar had warm words for each other’s countries and for their shared support for Ukraine. Earlier, Varadker and his partner had breakfast with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, where the Irish leader praised U.S. support for LGBTQ rights.