Two arrested after Joe Biden makes surprise Dublin visit

Two arrests were made after a group of protesters and onlookers gathered outside Trinity College Dublin during a visit of former US president Joe Biden.

Mr Biden made the surprise visit to Trinity College Dublin as his son Hunter was awarded the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution for Public Discourse by the world's oldest student society.

He was joined by former first lady Jill Biden.

Pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered outside the event to voice their opposition.

As the Bidens left the venue following the ceremony, some people moved forward and objects were thrown, including milk.

A number of garda public order unit vans and officers were on site and at least two arrests were made.

Footage showed a garda using a baton on one of the protesters being detained.

Speaking to RTÉ's Drivetime, Harper Alderson, editor of Trinity's University Times newspaper, claimed that gardaí had used pepper spray on two protesters.

"The protest grew very large as the cars were moving through front square of the college," she said.

"Students were surrounding them and chanting 'Genocide Joe', 'Shame on you' and 'guards off our campus' among other things."

Hunter Biden was convicted in the US of gun and tax crimes in June 2024 but was pardoned by his father later that year while he was still president.

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.

Before the event, the Hist said: "To a society like the Hist, Biden's recent advocacy on the state of American politics and media as well as for matters of addiction and recovery make him a commendable figure" to receive the award.

Arriving at the event, Hunter Biden said that he was honoured to be in Dublin with his family.

"To be able to come back to Ireland and be with my whole family, it means the world.

"I'm incredibly honoured by the Hist that they would think of me, thank you."

Of his father being in attendance, he said: "He's great, he's good, he's here."

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

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

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," he added.

The former US president and his family also met Taoiseach Micheál Martin in a Dublin hotel.

Very pleased to welcome former US President @JoeBiden and his family to Dublin. We reflected on his strong Irish roots and previous visits, appreciating his lifelong support for Ireland. https://t.co/aol5ikpih5

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 10, 2026

The Taoiseach said he and Mr Biden reminisced over many things.

Mr Biden's family also raised their links to Mayo with the Taoiseach and Mayo's All-Ireland success in July.

Mr Martin said: "I pointed out to him that the last time he was in Ireland he said 'Mayo for Sam' and I said eventually Mayo for Sam came through, albeit a bit later than maybe the president would have liked.

"And we talked about some of the stories he had told me about his late mother when she stayed in Hillsborough Castle with him.

"I better not say too much or we'll get ourselves into trouble again, but she didn't want to sleep in a particular bedroom because of her nationalist and republican background.

"But we had a good old laugh about that."

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Watch: Joe Biden makes surprise visit to Dublin for son's ceremony

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Mr Martin said Mr Biden is "a good-humoured man", adding that they "reflected on that kind of thing".

He added: "But I also thank him for his personal courtesy to me, as Taoiseach, and in the past.

"But above all, his enduring friendship to Ireland and support for Ireland."

It is understood Mr Martin and Mr Biden also discussed the Northern Ireland peace process and reconciliation, the meeting of the European Political Community in Dublin on Thursday and Ireland's hosting of the EU Presidency as well as wider international affairs.

Additional reporting by Barry Lenihan, Harry Manning and PA