DUBLIN — U.S. President Donald Trump faced immediate backlash from Northern Irish politicians shortly after arriving in Dublin on Saturday for remarks expressing support for the reunification of Ireland.
Following a closed-door meeting with Irish President Catherine Connolly and a subsequent session with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Trump told reporters he would “love to see” the island politically united, describing the prospect as “fantastic.”
“I think it would be a great feather in everybody’s cap if that happened. You know what? The way I look at it, it’s going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now,” Trump said during the press conference at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park.
The comments triggered swift opposition from key figures in Northern Irish politics. DUP leader Gavin Robinson took to social media to emphasize that the region’s constitutional status rests solely with its residents.
“Northern Ireland’s constitutional future will be decided by the people of Northern Ireland, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington,” Robinson wrote. He added that the union remains secure because it reflects the “settled democratic will” of the population.
Jon Burrows, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, echoed these sentiments, stating that Northern Ireland should not be used as a “pawn” in Trump’s disputes with the United Kingdom. He stressed that the province’s future does not depend on foreign dignitaries.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has previously declared that a vote on Irish unity is “off the table.” A spokesperson for Burnham confirmed on Saturday that the prime minister remains committed to the Good Friday Agreement.
The partition of the island dates back to 1921, separating the predominantly Protestant north, which remained under British rule, from the largely Catholic south. The resulting conflicts, known as “The Troubles,” escalated in the late 1960s before ending with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. That accord mandates that Northern Ireland will stay within the U.K. unless a majority of its citizens vote otherwise in a referendum.
Trump’s remarks came against a backdrop of public unrest, with protesters taking to the streets of Dublin to demonstrate against his two-day visit, which also included a golf outing at one of his resorts. Later in the day, addressing staff at the U.S. Embassy, Trump acknowledged the controversy but stood by his statement.
“I gave a nice answer, I think. We’ll worry about it tomorrow,” he said.
Good to see Robinson and Burrows drawing a firm line. The Good Friday Agreement isn’t up for casual revision by tourists.
He called it ‘fantastic’ like it’s a golf handicap. This is serious constitutional territory, not a deal to be struck.
Trump really thinks he can dictate Irish history? Northern Ireland’s fate belongs to its people, not Washington.