JOE Biden does not “hate Britain”, the White House insisted today as he met Rishi Sunak in Northern Ireland.
The US President said he was “here to listen” as he held talks in Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
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The PM and President held one-on-one talks inside the Grand Central Hotel this morning – the third time they’ve held meetings.
But the meeting was overshadowed by claims from former First Minister Dame Arlene Foster that Biden “hates the United Kingdom”.
DUP MP Sammy Wilson also blasted the President for a “record of being pro-Republican, anti-Unionist, anti-British”.
Quizzed on the claims, Amanda Sloat, Biden’s senior director for Europe at the National Security Council, said: “I think the track record of the president shows that he’s not anti-British.
“The president has been very actively engaged throughout his career dating back to when he was a senator in the peace process in Northern Ireland and that has involved meetings with leaders of all of Northern Ireland’s political parties from both of the two main communities.”
Mr Sunak also described the UK’s relationship with the US as being “in great shape”, describing them as “very close partners and allies”.
Biden is holding talks with the leaders of Northern Ireland parties in a bid to break the deadlock that has led to the collapse of power-sharing at Stormont.
In a speech at Ulster University this afternoon, Mr Biden hailed the peace breakthrough won by the 1998 accords.
He said: “This very campus is situated at an intersection where conflict and bloodshed once held a terrible sway.”
“The idea to have a glass building here when I was here in ’91 was highly unlikely.”
The PM met him on the tarmac yesterday when he landed from the US amid a huge ring of steel bid to protect him.
Police were seen standing guard and streets were shut in anticipation of the huge security operation.
The US President will deliver a speech at Ulster University later today, and hold informal talks with members of the Northern Irish parties in a bid to push them to come back to Stormont and get the government back up and running.
Earlier today Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council, said it is not anticipated that Mr Biden and Mr Sunak will discuss a free trade agreement.
She said: “I think their conversation is going to focus primarily on the situation in Northern Ireland given that that’s where they’re meeting, as well as the chance to touch base on Ukraine and some other issues.”
Later he will head on to Ireland to continue his tour, and meet some of his distant cousins.
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