Dublin, Ireland - A small number of arrests have been made as former President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Trinity College in Dublin on Tuesday.

Biden was joined by former first lady Jill Biden as they attended a ceremony during which their son, Hunter Biden, was awarded the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution for Public Discourse.

A group of protesters and onlookers gathered outside during the visit to the College Historical Society, many waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Blood on your hands!"

Biden has faced public outrage for providing Israel with military and diplomatic support in its brutal assault on the people of Gaza, which has killed at least 74,645 people to date.

Justice Kennedy family asks court to block Trump arch construction

As Biden left the venue, some people moved forward, and objects were thrown.

A number of Gardaí (Irish police) public order unit vans and officers were on site, and at least two arrests were made.

Hunter Biden was convicted in the US of gun and tax crimes in June 2024 but was pardoned by his father later that year while he was still president.

During his visit, the former US president also met Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the Merrion Hotel.

Speaking to the media later at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, Martin said he thanked Biden for his support for Ireland.

"In the early years, he was a great supporter of the peace process, and then latterly he was a really strong supporter of Ireland in the context of Brexit," he said.

Marco Rubio Rubio hails "very productive" Russia-Ukraine talks and calls Europe to the table

"And if you recall, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson was leading the UK in a particular direction, and I think President Biden intervened at that time to say that any undermining of the Good Friday Agreement would mean any potential trade agreement between the US and the UK could simply not happen."

"These interventions at that time were particularly effective and impactful in a beneficial way for Ireland."

Months after leaving office, Biden revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He acknowledged this week that the disease "sometimes slows [him] down" as he prepares for the release of his memoir, Promise Me, America.