Trump backs Irish unification as "fantastic" during Dublin visit, sparking unionist backlash

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would “love” to see Northern Ireland unify with Ireland, calling it a “fantastic thing” during a visit to Dublin.
Speaking alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House, Trump told reporters, “I don’t want to cause any problems, but I’d love to see it unified. It’s going to happen eventually. I think it would be a fantastic thing.” He added, “The UK will have something to say about it, obviously,” but reiterated, “I think it would be a great thing.”
The remarks drew a sharp response from pro-British unionists. Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson said Northern Ireland’s constitutional future “will be decided by the people of Northern Ireland, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington.” He added, “As unionists we are not interested in the destruction of our country by joining with the Irish Republic.”
A Downing Street spokesperson said British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s position remained unchanged: there is no majority support for a referendum on Irish unification, and until that changes, there will not be one. Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, a referendum can be held only at the discretion of the British government.
Martin did not address Trump’s comments during the press conference but later said the U.S. president’s stance “should come as a surprise to no one,” as Trump had been “consistent in his view that he sees unity in Ireland as the optimal outcome.”
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