U.S. President Donald Trump, during a visit to Dublin, stated that a united Ireland would be a "fantastic" thing. He made this statement after meeting with Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House on 12 September 2026.
"I don't want to cause problems, but I would love to see Ireland united," Trump stated, adding that he believes it will happen someday and would be a "fantastic thing."
According to the U.S. President, unification "will happen eventually," and "maybe it's better now." He added that the UK "will have something to say about it," but "how could it be bad?".
Trump also noted that he has friends on both sides of the border and called a possible unification a "great thing for everyone." He later admitted there is "no good answer" to such a question, but repeated that it is a "very cool thing."
Trump's visit to Ireland was brief: in the morning, he met with the country's President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin, then held talks with Martin, and afterwards headed to County Clare for the Irish Open tournament, which is being held at his golf course in Doonbeg.
The statement sparked a swift reaction. New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham had previously called a referendum on Northern Ireland leaving the United Kingdom "off the table," and Downing Street confirmed that the position has not changed. Unionists in Northern Ireland reacted sharply.
A major protest took place in Dublin on the same day: more than 10 thousand people took to the streets against the American president's visit.
How will these words affect relations between London, Belfast, and Dublin?
Trump emphasized that U.S.-Ireland relations "have never been as good as they are now." The visit combined diplomacy with personal interests: the golf course in Doonbeg is owned by the Trump family.
