House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) read a poem by U2’s Bono — and it didn’t go unnoticed.
At a St. Patrick’s Day lunch on Thursday, the House speaker began to read, “Oh Saint Patrick he drove out the snakes. With his prayers but that’s not all it takes.”
She later mentioned Ukraine amid its invasion by Russia and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“From the psycho in this human family Ireland’s sorrow and pain Is now the Ukraine,” she read. “And Saint Patrick’s name now Zelenskyy.”
Watch the video below:
Speaker Pelosi reads #StPatricksDay poem by Bono, which reads in part:
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 17, 2022
"Ireland's sorrow and pain
Is now the Ukraine
And Saint Patrick's name now Zelenskyy."
She then introduces Riverdance. pic.twitter.com/NzPY1VP2bN
And here’s that poem that Pelosi says Bono sent to her this morning, from the pool report:
— Dylan Wells (@dylanewells) March 17, 2022
“Ireland's sorrow and pain/Is now the Ukraine/And Saint Patrick's name now Zelenskyy.” https://t.co/WVSTq7WVVn pic.twitter.com/a0RbeVnTcF
Earlier Thursday, Pelosi shared that she would be reading the poem about Ukraine “which you might find interesting,” as she put it.
PELOSI: "I will be reading a poem written by Bono about Ukraine which you might find interesting." pic.twitter.com/6AqHlpsTPP
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 17, 2022
However, the House speaker received criticism, which some called “cringeworthy.”
The Washington Free Beacon’s Chuck Ross tweeted, “I need a Guinness to wash down the cringe.”
Check out reactions below:
Tucker Carlson roasts Pelosi's reading of a poem by Bono.
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 18, 2022
Read more: https://t.co/Usd77djuy4 pic.twitter.com/yTGhjRenlg
I need a Guinness to wash down the cringe https://t.co/TiJVwwc7ts
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) March 17, 2022
DERANGED DEMS: During a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Joe Biden insulted the Irish, while Nancy Pelosi bizarrely read a Bono poem. TONIGHT on “Hannity,” we’ll show you the tape and @NewtGingrich will react.
— Sean Hannity 🇺🇸 (@seanhannity) March 18, 2022
Nancy Pelosi is going to read a poem about Ukraine later today.
— Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) March 17, 2022
Putin has to be terrified.
Nancy Pelosi introducing this poem: “Bono has been a very Irish part of our lives.”
— Liam Stack (@liamstack) March 17, 2022
Extraordinary levels of Irish cringe.
This poem brought the snakes back. https://t.co/hEJNtpxegu
I wholeheartedly support Ukraine. This, however, is not the right gesture at all. Very cringeworthy. Make it stop! https://t.co/3kAMZAgaIw
— Gabriella Hoffman (@Gabby_Hoffman) March 17, 2022
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 — the invasion entering its fourth week. As The Washington Post reports, “Moscow is struggling to gain control of key cities while exacting a heavy toll on civilians — attacks that multiple world leaders say could amount to war crimes.”
Zelenskyy addressed Congress this week and pleaded for more help. And on Wednesday, President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal.” Biden pledged this week an additional $800 million to help Ukraine, on top of the $200 million the U.S. president sent last weekend.