A surprise appearance by former US president Joe Biden at Trinity College Dublin ended with tension outside the campus gates, where gardaí made two arrests amid a crowd of protesters and onlookers.
Mr Biden arrived unexpectedly at Trinity as his son, Hunter, received the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution for Public Discourse from the world’s oldest student society.
Former first lady Jill Biden accompanied him.
Outside the event, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered to protest the visit.
As the Bidens exited the venue after the ceremony, some people surged forward and objects were thrown, including milk.
Several garda public order unit vans and officers were deployed at the scene and at least two arrests were made.
Protesters gathered outside the Trinity’s Reading Room
Video from the scene showed a garda using a baton as one protester was being detained.
In an interview on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Harper Alderson, editor of Trinity’s University Times newspaper, alleged that gardaí 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, widely known as the Hist, dates back to 1770.
Among past winners of its Gold Medal are former Irish president Michael D Higgins, Bob Geldof, Patti Smith, Julian Assange and Desmond Tutu.
Joe (right) and Jill Biden celebrating their son Hunter at Trinity College Dublin
Ahead of the ceremony, 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.
On arrival, Hunter Biden said 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.”
Asked about his father’s attendance, he said: “He’s great, he’s good, he’s here.”
Hunter and his father at Trinity College Dublin
Joe Biden’s Dublin appearance comes days after he said he would reduce his plans to promote his forthcoming memoir while being treated for aggressive prostate cancer.
In May 2025 — four months after he left the White House — Mr Biden said he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
He has since received radiation and hormone therapy, and in August his son Hunter said the disease had spread further and was causing considerable pain.
Even so, Mr Biden has voiced confidence in his care, saying doctors “continue to be encouraged” by how he is responding.
The Democrat said the treatment would limit how many public events he could do before the 17 November publication 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.
During the trip, the former US president and his family also met Taoiseach Micheál Martin at 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
Mr Martin said their meeting included a wide-ranging conversation and shared memories.
He said Mr Biden’s family spoke about their Mayo connections, along with Mayo’s All-Ireland win 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.”
Watch: Joe Biden makes surprise visit to Dublin for son’s ceremony
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Mr Martin described Mr Biden as “a good-humoured man”, saying they “reflected on that kind of thing”.
He said: “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
