White House clarifies Biden’s ‘screw it up’ swipe at Britain

The White House clarified President Joe Biden’s comment on Thursday that he was in Ireland to prevent the British from messing with the Good Friday Agreement.

Biden caused a disturbance across the pond with his remarks Wednesday night at a Democratic fundraiser, where he said of his April trip to Ireland, “I have to go back to Ireland for the Irish accords, to make sure they don’t were – the British didn’t mess around and Northern Ireland didn’t walk away from their obligations.’

The offhand remark sparked anger among the British, who defended Sunak’s work in delicate post-Brexit trade talks.

The White House did not see Biden’s comment as a swipe at the prime minister.

“As the President said in Belfast, he deeply appreciates Prime Minister Sunak’s leadership in reaching an agreement with the EU on the Windsor Framework and preserving the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement,” said Adam Hodge, spokesperson for the National Security Council, in a statement to DailyMail. com.

But the comment also reiterated that Biden is “anti-British” after making just a flight visit to Northern Ireland last month to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, ahead of an extensive tour of the Republic – where he often prides itself on roots.

He also provoked more anger by skipping King Charles’ coronation last weekend, sending First Lady Jill Biden instead.

Asked about Biden’s comment, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “You know, of course, that the Windsor Framework was the pinnacle of substantive work between the UK and the EU, and that the UK’s priority has always been to protect the Good Friday Agreement.

“We’ve been consistent on that point all along and we’re pleased to have been able to reach an agreement between the UK and the EU that works for the people of Northern Ireland and for the whole of the UK.”

But Biden’s comment drew fire from the Democratic Unionists, Northern Ireland’s main pro-British party.

“It is unbelievable and frightening to think that this man is the leader of the free world,” said DUP spokesman Sammy Wilson. “If you think there should be a special relationship between the US and the UK, at least show us some respect.”

Biden has long cared about the Good Friday Agreement, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.

The agreement helped end the sectarian violence that has raged for three decades over whether Northern Ireland should unite with Ireland or remain part of the United Kingdom.

Questions about the viability of the deal arose in the days following Brexit, as Northern Ireland sought to maintain its trading status with the European Union.

President Joe Biden met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak while in Belfast

Some Britons were offended when President Biden sent Jill Biden to London for coronation celebrations — over the first lady with Prime Minister Sunak

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden had a brief meeting with King Charles as he held a reception for world leaders at Buckingham Palace following Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

Biden delayed making a long-awaited visit to Ireland until that diplomatic headache went away.

It was resolved when Britain and the European Union agreed on the Windsor Framework, which paved the way for trade across the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, essentially remained in the European Union market, along with its neighbor the Republic of Ireland, an independent country when Britain voted to leave the EU to leave

The Windsor Framework will keep goods moving without upsetting the Good Friday Agreement. The Belfast Agreement is also known as the Good Friday Agreement because it was reached on Good Friday, 10 April 1998. It helped end 30 years of sectarian conflict on the island.

Biden had urged British officials to protect the deal as they issued post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

His government insisted that London respect the Northern Ireland Protocol, an agreement with the European Union that establishes a customs border in the Irish Sea between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland.

British loyalists complained that the protocol is bringing Northern Ireland closer to the neighboring Republic of Ireland. There are Protestant suspicions that the Catholic Biden favors a united Ireland, but the president has not publicly expressed support for such a move.

The White House has repeatedly had to defend Biden’s handling of the special, essential relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Biden clearly did not meet King Charles III during his stay in Belfast – while Sunak flew to Northern Ireland to greet the president.

And Biden called the king to tell him he would not attend his coronation, but would send his wife Jill instead. Their granddaughter Finnegan attended the ceremony with the first lady.

‘This is no excuse. The president has a good relationship with the king,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told DailyMail.com in April.

“During that call, the king offered him to make a state visit, which the president accepted and so they will see each other again very soon,” said Jean-Pierre.

No timeline for that visit has been given.