- The president held a notecard during Oval Office meeting with the Irish PM
- He turned it around, allowing photographers to snap its contents
- He hosted the Taoiseach and acknowledged him at the Capitol as well
President Joe Biden brandished a notecard complete with a pronunciation guide Friday even on a subject dear to his heart – a St. Patrick’s Day meeting with the Irish Prime Minister, called the ‘Taoiseach’.
Biden, who has taken heat for his use of notecards in the past, didn’t hide his cheat sheet during the televised greeting in the Oval Office.
‘Taoiseach, welcome back to the Oval office,’ Biden said sitting alongside his guest Friday while holding his notecard in front of his unlit fireplace, which was fronted by a bowl of shamrock.
At one point, Biden turned his notecard around, allowing photographers to snap an image of the contents, which was titled ‘IRELAND MEETING PARTICIPANTS.’
It’s in the cards: President Joe Biden holds a notecard for his oval office meeting with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
In addition to providing coaching on the hazardous ‘Taoiseach’ title, the card had instructions on how to say the name of the Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar. It also listed Ireland’s ambassador to the U.S., Geraldine Byrne Nason.
‘Great chance to return some of the hospitality that you provided me when I was in Ireland last,’ he said, correctly pronouncing the Gaelic word as ‘tee-shock.’
Biden was referencing his latest trip to Ireland, where he brought family members and staff on a visit where he also met with distant relatives.
![Biden turned over his note card, which revealed photos and the flag of the Republic of Ireland](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/15/19/82524479-13202803-image-a-23_1710530808390.jpg)
Biden turned over his note card, which revealed photos and the flag of the Republic of Ireland
!['Tee-shock' is how aides advised Biden to pronouncing the visiting PM's title](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/15/19/82524469-13202803-image-a-24_1710531012151.jpg)
‘Tee-shock’ is how aides advised Biden to pronouncing the visiting PM’s title
Biden also traveled to the Capitol for the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon at the Capitol where he again acknowledged the Taoiseach after House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has clashed with Biden over funding for Ukraine, introduced the president as ‘America’s most famous irishman.’
‘Taioseach, thank you for joining us again,’ Biden said, once again nailing the pronunciation, at least by U.S. standards.