Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has apologized for making an off-color joke about Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky during a speech in Washington.
The remarks were made ahead of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, where Varadkar was set to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden.
Varadkar's unscripted quip could have overshadowed the important day in the Irish-American political calendar, prompting a quick apology from the prime minister's spokesman.
While attending an event in Washington, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar made a reference to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, which threatened to overshadow his meeting with President Biden on St. Patrick's Day.
The joke drew a range of reactions from laughter to gasps, with some arguing it was "ill-judged," "off-the-cuff," or simply "an embarrassing mis-step.
" Varadkar later apologized through his spokesman, who said the Taoiseach "made an ill-judged, off-the-cuff remark which he regrets.
" Despite the controversy, Varadkar still attended the annual St. Patrick's Day reception in the White House along with business leaders from Northern Ireland.
However, the incident highlighted the pressure on politicians to tread carefully with sensitive subjects, particularly during important celebrations.