Joe Biden makes surprise Dublin visit in support of son

Updated / Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 15:34

Former US president Joe Biden has made a surprise visit to Trinity College Dublin.

He was joined by former first lady Jill Biden as they attended a ceremony during which their son, Hunter Biden, was awarded the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution for Public Discourse by the world's oldest student society.

The College Historical Society, more commonly known as the HIST, was founded in 1770.

Previous recipients of the Gold Medal include former Irish president Michael D Higgins, Bob Geldof, Patti Smith, Julian Assange and Desmond Tutu.

Joe Biden's appearance comes after the 83-year-old announced in recent days that he would be scaling back plans to promote his upcoming memoir as he undergoes treatment for aggressive prostate cancer.

The Democrat said that he would be unable to make as many public appearances as he had hoped ahead of the 17 November release of "Promise Me, America."

"Some days are better than others. It hasn't stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down," Mr Biden wrote on X.

"What that means is, unfortunately, I won't be able to do as many conversations about my book as I'd hoped. However, I'm hopeful the words on the page speak for themselves."

Mr Biden announced in May 2025, four months after leaving the White House, that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.

He has since undergone radiation and hormone therapy, while his son Hunter said in August that the disease had spread further and was causing considerable pain.

Mr Biden struck an optimistic note about his treatment, saying his doctors "continue to be encouraged" by his response.