Joe Biden makes unannounced Dublin visit for son Hunter, at least two arrested

A surprise stop at Trinity College

Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrived unannounced at Trinity College Dublin on Tuesday, 10 November, and took front-row seats in the Examination Hall. The visit centred on a ceremony at which their son, Hunter Biden, received the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Public Discourse from the College Historical Society, known as the HIST. Other members of the Biden family also attended. The HIST, founded in 1770, has previously honoured figures such as Bob Geldof and Desmond Tutu. Joe Biden, who is 83, also met Taoiseach Micheál Martin during the trip. Martin later said on X that he was pleased to welcome the family, and that they had reflected on Biden's "strong Irish roots".

Protests and arrests

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered during the event, and gardaí, the Irish police, detained some of them. As the Bidens left the venue, some people moved forward and objects were thrown, according to RTÉ. Public order unit officers and vans were stationed at the site, and at least two people were arrested. The Independent described the scene near the venue as chaotic. Gardaí continued to hold the area around the college as the family departed.

Hunter Biden and the award

Hunter Biden was convicted in 2024 of gun and tax crimes in the United States, and his father later pardoned him while still serving as president. That made him the first child of a sitting president to be convicted of a crime. Since the 2024 US presidential election and Donald Trump's return to the Oval Office, Hunter Biden has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration. Public attention has long focused on his struggles with drug addiction. The award he received on Tuesday came from a student society that has existed since 1770.

Cancer treatment and the memoir

Joe Biden first disclosed in May 2025, four months after leaving the White House, that he had prostate cancer. The aggressive form had spread to his bones, and he has since been treated with radiation and hormone therapy. Hunter Biden said in August that the cancer had advanced further and was painful. On Sunday, 8 November, Joe Biden said he would not be able to hold as many conversations about his book as he had hoped. He said his doctors were encouraged by how he has responded to treatment, while acknowledging the bad days. He put it this way:

“Some days are better than others. It hasn't stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down.”

His memoir, Promise Me, America, is scheduled for release on 17 November.