Niall Horan beams with US president Joe Biden on St Patrick’s Day
IRISH pop star Niall Horan beams with US president Joe Biden on St Patrick’s Day.
The former One Direction singer, 29, serenaded Mr Biden, 80, who claims Irish roots, during celebrations at the White House.
The Story Of My Life singer told him: “It’s a major honour for me to be here.”
The singer also poked fun at the American pronunciation of , saying: "Happy Paddy's Day, and for all the Americans here that's with two Ds not two Ts."
Opening his set in the East Room, the One Direction star said: "Thank you very much for having me here.
"As a proud Irishman who travels the world it is a major honour for me to be here so thank you very much for putting me up to it.
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"There's a lot of very talented Irish singers out there, so to be chosen to represent your country on the grandest of stages is a real honour, so thanks very much."
Niall started by singing his new single Heaven before singing Flicker and This Town.
But Biden was also slammed on social media after making a number of dated jokes about Irish stereotypes during the Friends of Ireland luncheon.
The US president claims Irish heritage but in reality, it is several generations back on his mother's side.
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During his opening remarks, Biden said: "I’ve been to Ireland many times, but not to actually look up, to find my actual family members. And there are so many - and they actually weren’t in jail."
Speaking about his visit to his supposed ancestral homeland, he said: "There’s still a place called Finnegan’s pub … that’s related to my family. I’m the only Irishman you ever met, though, that’s never had a drink, so I’m OK. I’m really not Irish."
Some 32 million Americans - just under one in ten of the total population - identified themselves as Irish in the most recent census.
In reality, most of them have no living relatives on the island of Ireland, and claim Irish heritage as an affectation.