The US President Joe Biden has made a deliberate bid to cause offence with a key move during his trip to Northern Ireland, according to a DUP politician.
Biden delivered a major snub to the United Kingdom by not flying the Union Flag on his car, but opting to attach the Republic of Ireland colours instead.
During his visit to Northern Ireland, his official vehicle was seen donning the USA Stars and Stripes banner and the presidential standard on the bonnet.
Hours later, the symbol of the President on the car was switched to the green, white and orange of Eire when he moved south of the border.
GB News / PA
Jim Wells has criticised the US President over his stance towards Britain
Ex-DUP assembly member for South Down, Jim Wells, has hit out at the President over the move, claiming it was a “premeditated” bid to cause offence.
Speaking on GB News, he said: “This combined with the fact that he is refusing to come to the Coronation and his recent photoshoot with Gerry Adams would indicate to me that there is a bias here.
“Biden must have known what he was doing when he refused to fly the Union Flag in the United Kingdom.
“It was premeditated, it was clearly there to cause offence and it has, now that it has become public courtesy of GB News.
Joe Biden appears to have delivered a major snub to the UK“I would say that he is going out of his way to cause maximum offence to the British citizens of this part of the UK.”
The exclusive report from GB News comes after Biden delivered a speech to a packed Irish Parliament, becoming the fourth US President to do so.
He praised the “enduring” strength of the Irish-US relationship while pledging a “future poised for unlimited shared possibilities”.
Biden spoke of the “precious” peace that must be “nurtured” in Northern Ireland as he suggested the UK should be working more closely with the Republic of Ireland to support the region.
It comes after the White House had issued a statement denying the President is “anti-British”.
Amanda Sloat, his special assistant, said: “I think the track record of the President shows that he is not anti-British.
“The President has been very actively engaged throughout his career dating back to when he was a senator in the peace process in Northern Ireland and that involved engagement with leaders of all Northern Ireland parties from both of the two main communities.”
Ahead of his visit, Ex-DUP leader and GB News presenter Arlene Foster claims President Biden “hates the UK”.
