Trump says he’d ‘love’ to see a united Ireland

President Donald Trump waded into one of the most politically charged issues on the island of Ireland on Saturday, declaring during meetings in Dublin that he would "love" to see the country unified and predicting it would "happen eventually."

"I don't want to cause any problems but I'd love to see it unified," Trump told reporters while seated alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House. "It's going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now. I think it would be a fantastic thing."globalbankingandfinance+1

He added that "the U.K. will have something to say about it, obviously," acknowledging the central obstacle to any such move. The remarks break with the tradition of previous American presidents, including Joe Biden, who avoided commenting directly on the question of Irish unity despite strong personal ties to the country.actionnewsjax+2

London Pushes Back

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office weeks ago, had already declared a referendum on Northern Ireland's status "off the table." On Wednesday he said, "I am not aware that there is majority public support for another referendum, and until that changes, there will not be one."ctvnews+1

Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended three decades of violence that killed some 3,600 people, a unification referendum can be held only at the discretion of the British government. While polls still show a majority in Northern Ireland favoring remaining in the UK, the margin has narrowed since Brexit.indiatoday+1

A Visit Blending Diplomacy and Golf

Trump's 48-hour trip combined official meetings with a journey to his oceanfront Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg to attend the Irish Open. Earlier Saturday, he met Irish President Catherine Connolly — a left-wing politician who protested his 2019 visit and once called him a "bully" — at her official residence, where the two shook hands on a red carpet before holding closed-door talks.indiatoday+1

The visit drew protests in Dublin, where police cordoned off the 1,750-acre Phoenix Park. Taxi driver Christopher Fox told the Associated Press, "He's causing mayhem in this city because he wants to go down to Doonbeg and play golf. The world's in turmoil and this fella's down playing golf." A coalition of left-leaning parties, pro-Palestinian organizations, and anti-war groups planned demonstrations across the city.actionnewsjax+2

The Irish Open is the second European Tour event held at a Trump property this year, following last month's Nexo Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland — continuing Trump's pattern of blending presidential duties with appearances at venues tied to his family business.ctvnews+1