Biden mistakenly references Black and Tanspublished at 10:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Adam Durbin
Live reporter
A gaffe by Joe Biden has been trending on social media in Ireland since he said it in County Louth yesterday - with some tabloids even splashing it on their front pages.
Speaking at a pub in Dundalk, Biden accidentally mentioned the Black and Tans - the nickname given to British recruits sent to Ireland during the 1919-21 War of Independence - instead of New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team.
It came as he was paying tribute to former Irish ruby star Rob Kearney - one of Biden's many distant cousins who was in the pub for the speech.
Biden had meant to compliment Kearney for his part in Ireland's historic victory over the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016, the first time in 111 years.
"He’s a hell of a rugby player, and he beat the hell out of the Black and Tans. Oh, God." Biden said, to a fair amount of laughter.
The White House has issued a correction to the official transcript of the speech, external.
Speaking to reporters this morning, NSC senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat said: "It was clear what the president was referring to, it was certainly clear to his cousins setting next to him."