This past week saw President Joe Biden host a St. Patrick's Day event in which he welcomed Irish Prime Minister Leo Eric Varadkar to the White House.

Yet in a stunning move, Varadkar announced just days after his White House visit that he is resigning from politics. 

"There’s never a right time to resign from high office"

According to Fox News, Varadkar broke the news at a press conference on Wednesday in which he also announced that he is stepping down as president of the political party Fine Gael.

"There’s never a right time to resign from high office; however, this is as good a time as any. Budget 2024 is done. Negotiations have not yet commenced on the next one,"

"The institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are working again, and our trading relationship with the UK in the post-Brexit era is settled and stable," Varadkar continued, referring to the 26-year-old peace agreement in Northern Ireland.

"My reasons for stepping down are both personal and political. Politicians are human beings, and we have our limitations. We give it everything we can't anymore, and then we have to move on," he said.

Varadkar: "We need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes"

"I know inevitably there will be speculation as to the quote, unquote real reason for my decision. These are the real reasons," Varadkar insisted.

"That’s it. I have nothing else lined up. I have nothing in mind. I have no definite personal or political plans. But I’m really looking forward to having the time to think about them," the politician stressed.

Varadkar also took a moment to address foreign policy, stating, "Ukraine must not fall and together, we need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. We look forward to working with America for the next 100 years."

Fox News noted that Varadkar will retain his seat in Ireland's lower house of Parliament, which is known as the Teachta Dála.

Varadkar faced with referendum loss and protests over immigration

Varadkar's departure comes shortly after voters rejected an amendment he supported that would have changed how women and families are referenced in Ireland's constitution.

The prime minister also faced growing protests over his decision to let in a growing number of migrants, many of them from the Middle East.

🚨

There's a protest in Coolock right now against mass immigration.

Apparently, the government is trying to force their way in tonight to make way for illegals.

Young lads on horses have joined the protest effort. pic.twitter.com/uVevYeXlfs

— MichaeloKeeffe (@Mick_O_Keeffe) March 20, 2024

The Irish Freedom Party declared that Varadkar's "recent referendum humiliation showed how out of touch he is," adding, "His legacy will be communities all over the country protesting against his mass immigration policies."