US President Donald Trump said he would 'love' to see a united Ireland and that unification 'may as well happen now' at the start of a two-day visit to Dublin, prompting objections from the UK government and Northern Ireland's unionist leaders.
Key facts
- Trump said he would 'love' to see a united Ireland and that it 'may as well happen now'.
- The comments came at the start of a two-day visit to Ireland on Saturday.
- During the trip Trump met politicians and business leaders and played golf.
- The UK government and Northern Ireland's unionist leaders issued a swift rebuttal.
- Trump also said the war involving Iran 'will end very soon', according to Reuters alerts cited by the Guardian.
US President Donald Trump said he would ‘love’ to see a united Ireland and that unification ‘may as well happen now’, according to the Guardian. The remarks came at the start of a two-day visit to the republic on Saturday.
The Guardian reported that Trump appeared to endorse the push for constitutional change on the island of Ireland, saying that unification would happen eventually and so ‘may as well happen now’.
The intervention was described by the Guardian as unexpected and prompted a swift rebuttal from the UK government and from Northern Ireland’s unionist leaders.
During the two-day trip, Trump was meeting politicians and business leaders and playing golf, according to the Guardian. He also held a meeting with Micheál Martin.
Reuters issued a series of alerts on Trump’s latest comments during that meeting, the Guardian reported, including a statement on Iran in which the president said the war ‘will end very soon’.
Al Jazeera also reported that Trump said he would ‘love to see’ a united Ireland during his Irish visit.
Why it matters
The question of Irish unification is a highly sensitive constitutional issue tied to the Good Friday framework, and a sitting US president weighing in can carry diplomatic weight. Trump's comments and the swift rebuttal from the UK government and unionist leaders highlight the political tensions his remarks could stir.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly did Trump say about a united Ireland?
According to the Guardian, Trump said he would 'love' to see a united Ireland and that unification will happen eventually so it 'may as well happen now'.
How did the UK and unionists respond?
The Guardian reported that Trump's comments prompted a swift rebuttal from the UK government and Northern Ireland's unionist leaders.
What was Trump doing in Ireland?
He was on a two-day visit meeting politicians and business leaders and playing golf, and he also met Micheál Martin, according to the Guardian.