Biden White House splits unionists and nationalists

TUV’S Allister expects ‘meddling’ president, but SDLP think he’ll seek to build bridges

NATIONALISTS and unionists are deeply divided on the prospect of a Biden White House as the 46th US president is sworn in today.

TUV leader Jim Allister predicted four years of an “activist president meddling in Northern Ireland”.

SDLP Belfast councillor Seamas de Faoite, one of the few local politicians to have met the incoming president, challenged unionist stereotypes of him and forecast that he would be a bridge-builder.

After his inauguration, the president-elect is expected to appoint a high-profile special envoy to Northern Ireland who will be “much more engaged” than his predecessor, Mick Mulvaney, sources said.

With Biden boasting the deepest Irish roots of any president since JFK, unionists are fearful of a significant “greening” of the White House.

In a now famous clip from last year, he is seen responding to a BBC reporter who asked him for a comment. “The BBC? I’m Irish,” he replies, walking away. A quip on St Patrick’s Day six years ago — “If you’re wearing orange, you’re not welcome in here” — also sparked controversy.

“From a unionist perspective, he’s viewed very negatively,” said Mr Allister.

“Through his approach and past utterances, Joe Biden has demonstrated that he is wedded to the nationalist narrative which now includes resistance to liberating the people of Northern Ireland from the incredible economic damage of the protocol.

“Donald Trump had a handsoff approach to this part of the world and that was a positive. Unionists don’t want to interfere in US affairs and we don’t want Americans interfering in ours.

“I believe that Joe Biden will be an activist president, meddling in Northern Ireland.”

Seamas de Faoite, who met the president-elect when he was campaigning in the New Hampshire primary last February, said: “Joe Biden has a deep affinity with the people of Ireland and a great sense of fairness. He knows how to compromise and bring people together.

“He spent 30 years in the US Senate doing that. He established a friendship with the Republican John Mccain, whose politics were very different to his own. That experience helps him understand the challenges Northern Ireland faces.”

Mr de Faoite challenged unionist stereotypes of Mr Biden. “Characterising him as a ‘plastic Paddy’ is simply wrong. He has a good team of people around him who know Ireland and the challenges of peace,” he said.

“Every recent administration until Trump — even Bush’s — was very involved in the North. Biden’s support for our young people will be crucial as the next generation forges a united future in the place we call home.”

An official visit to Ireland by the incoming president is expected once Covid allows it.

DUP politicians enjoyed a strong relationship with Donald Trump. Ian Paisley tweeted a photo of himself with Melania at the 2018 St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the White House.

Writing in this newspaper, the DUP MP said: “The tide has turned. This week unionism was represented in Washington to an extent not witnessed before.

“The DUP delegation, led by Nigel Dodds, three MLAS — Edwin Poots, Paul Givan and Jonathan Buckley — MEP Diane Dodds, councillor Philip Brett and myself, invested time and energy in a campaign to deliver a message to a captive audience about Northern Ireland.

“The president didn’t need to be introduced to the unionists there as he’s on a first-name basis and made that known by referring in glowing terms to his friends in Northern Ireland.”

While there will still be an open door to the White House for unionists, the style and substance of this presidency will be very different from the administration that preceded it.

‘We do not want the US to interfere in local affairs’