At least two people have been arrested after students lobbed cartons of milk at Joe Biden in Ireland this afternoon.
Biden made a surprise appearance at Trinity College Dublin as his son Hunter was awarded a top award by the university’s historical society.
Students began protesting in the 1937 Reading Room over the former US president’s role in the Gaza war before going outside, according to The University Times student newspaper.
Gardaí, the Irish police force, arrested two people. Footage shared on social media showed a garda using a baton.
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‘The protest grew very large as the cars were moving through the front square of the college,’ she added.
The Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union and the Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn, the Irish student union, criticised Biden’s invitation to the university.
In a joint Instagram post, the unions said they were ‘appalled’ by the police response to a ‘peaceful protest’ and urged the university to investigate.
‘Students have every right to protest [Biden’s] visit, challenge those in positions of power and demonstrate their solidarity with the Palestinian people,’ they added.
Hunter was awarded the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution for Public Discourse by the College Historical Society, often called the Hist.
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.’
Hunter told the event that he was ‘honoured’ to receive the medal.
‘To be able to come back to Ireland and be with my whole family, it means the world,’ he said, adding that it was ‘good’ his father could join.
Speaking later at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, Martin thanked Biden for his support for Ireland.
‘In the early years, he was a great supporter of the peace process, and then later he was a really strong supporter of Ireland in the context of Brexit,’ he added.
Israel has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2022, including 1,500 people since the cease-fire, according to Gazan officials.
A UN human rights panel accused Israel of committing genocidal acts in the coastal strip despite the pause in fighting last month; Israel denied this.
An Garda Síochána has been approached for comment.
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