OnPolitics: As President Joe Biden heads to Ireland, more on his Irish American roots

Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen, USA TODAY
Updated ·1 min read
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President Joe Biden speaks during a St. Patrick's Day reception in the East Room of the White House, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Hi OnPolitics readers. Political news watchers know that President Joe Biden frequently calls on his Irish American heritage. It's a central part of his political identity.

USA TODAY White House reporter Joey Garrison traces back the president's Irish familial history in a story in advance of Biden's Ireland trip this week.

☘️ Biden's Irish roots: From famine-ravaged Ireland to Scranton, Pa.

The story also explores the politics behind Biden's working-class pitch and what it means for 2024:

... The trip is also a way for Biden to connect with voters at home, allowing him to reintroduce his Irish American roots – and lean into his economic message of "dignity" – as he works to win back working-class voters who have fled the Democratic Party.

📰 Keep reading: How Biden uses his Irish American heritage to appeal to working class voters

What's next: Pres. Biden travels to Ireland tomorrow. His four-day trip will include a visit to where his ancestors once lived.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Biden Irish? Here's his family history before his Ireland trip.