Biden calls Putin ‘a murderous dictator’ and ‘thug’

President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin "a murderous dictator" and "pure thug" as he addressed the "Friends of Ireland Luncheon" hosted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the U.S. Capitol Thursday.

Biden was thanking Ireland for standing with the United States and the international community against Putin, who Biden sais is "waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine."

The luncheon went on in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day despite the guest of honor, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, being forced to sit it out due to a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Martin learned he had tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday evening while attending an event with Biden and Pelosi, but the White House said the president was not considered a close-contact of Martin — also referred to as Ireland’s taoiseach.