Arrests Made in Dublin During Visit From Former US President Biden

At least two individuals faced arrests during a surprise visit by former US President Joe Biden to Trinity College in Dublin on Tuesday. The former president arrived alongside former first lady Jill Biden to attend a special ceremony where their son, Hunter Biden, received the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution for Public Discourse from the College Historical Society.

During the family visit, crowds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators assembled near the campus. According to reports from Irish broadcaster RTÉ, some participants moved forward and threw objects as the Biden family departed the venue. Gardaí, the Irish police, intervened at the scene where several officers and public order unit vans were deployed, leading to at least two detentions.

Security and Protests Surround Arrests

Previous recipients of the Trinity College award include notable figures such as former Irish president Michael D Higgins, Bob Geldof, Patti Smith, Julian Assange, and Desmond Tutu. Hunter Biden's recognition follows a turbulent period in the United States, where he was convicted of federal gun and tax offenses in 2024 before receiving a pardon from his father during the final stretch of his presidency. This made him the first child of a sitting US president to face criminal conviction.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered and at least two arrests occurred during Joe Biden's Dublin university visit.

Aside from the university engagement, the former US president and his relatives also held a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The Irish prime minister shared on social media platform X that he welcomed the family and that their discussions touched upon Biden's deep connections to the country.

Why it matters

The events in Dublin highlight the intersection of high-profile international figures and ongoing geopolitical demonstrations on academic campuses. For global observers and local communities alike, the deployment of public order units and the resulting police actions underscore the intense public scrutiny surrounding political figures, particularly regarding foreign policy stances.