Trump Says He Would 'Love to See' a Unified Ireland During Dublin Visit
US President Donald Trump said he would 'love to see' a unified Ireland during a meeting with Irish premier Micheál Martin in Dublin, later conceding there is 'no good answer' to the question.
US President Donald Trump has said he would "love to see" a unified Ireland, wading into one of the most sensitive questions in Irish and British politics during a weekend visit to his golf course in Ireland.
Speaking alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin on Saturday, Trump said he did not wish to stir controversy but went on to back the idea of reunification. He said he had friends on both sides of the divide, describing them as "great people", and argued that unity would be a credit to all involved. In his words, it is a development that will happen eventually.
Later, addressing business leaders from both countries at the US ambassador's residence, Trump acknowledged that the issue has "no good answer".
The status of Northern Ireland has been contested for more than a century. The six-county region has a Protestant majority and remains part of the United Kingdom, while nationalists — most of them Catholic — have long sought union with the Republic of Ireland. Ireland itself became a self-governing, Catholic-majority state a hundred years ago after centuries of domination by its larger neighbour, Britain.
Those competing visions fuelled decades of violence known as the Troubles, involving paramilitary groups on both sides and British troops. A 1998 peace agreement, in whose negotiation the United States played a central role, largely ended the bloodshed but left Northern Ireland's final constitutional position open. Under that settlement, a vote on unification can be held if it appears likely that a majority would support it.
American presidents have generally steered clear of direct comment on the subject, including Joe Biden, who has strong personal ties to Ireland. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that London would consider permitting a referendum only when public opinion has shifted to the point where the demand must be taken seriously. His office pointed back to that position when asked about Trump's remarks.