OH NO JOE

Biden forced to backtrack over united Ireland question gaffe

- FERGHAL BLANEY

PRESIDENT Joe Biden had another gaffe at the end of his Irish trip when he appeared to give a wholehearted commitment to a united Ireland.

Asked if he thought it would happen by an American White House reporter as he stepped off the plane in America in the early hours of Saturday morning, he said: "I think it will. I think we're getting close." But he quickly backtracked and said he had misheard or misunderstood the question before saying no, he wasn't calling for a united Ireland at this time.

His latest gaffe came after he almost caused a major international rift with many in the British Government last week after he confused the All Blacks rugby team with the infamous and hated Black and Tans forces of the Irish War of Independence.