Trump Calls Irish Unification "Fantastic" During Dublin Visit, Reigniting a Decades-Old Debate

DUBLIN — President Donald Trump waded into one of Ireland's most sensitive political debates on Saturday, telling reporters that a reunified Ireland "would be a fantastic thing" and predicting it would happen "eventually." The remarks came during a bilateral meeting with Ireland's taoiseach, Micheál Martin. Trump briefly hesitated before answering a question on the subject, noting he didn't want to stir controversy, but then said he'd like to see the island unified. A Question US Presidents Typically Avoid The prospect of merging Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland has divided the region for generations. Unionists, largely from Protestant communities, want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, while nationalists, mostly Catholic, favor reunification. The conflict turned violent for nearly three decades during the period known as the Troubles. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement, brokered with US involvement, ended most of the bloodshed and established that reunification could only proceed if majorities on both sides of the border approved it in referendums. Given the topic's volatility, American presidents — including Joe Biden, who often spoke of his own Irish roots — have generally steered clear of taking a public position. UK and Unionist Leaders Push Back Trump's comments drew quick criticism from London and Northern Ireland's unionist camp. Downing Street referred CNN to remarks Prime Minister Andy Burnham made in August, when he said a border poll was not currently under consideration and pledged full adherence to the Good Friday framework. Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson said Northern Ireland's future should be determined by its own residents rather than officials in London, Dublin or Washington. Despite the criticism, Trump stood by his position, telling reporters he believed the shift could happen soon and gesturing toward Martin as someone capable of driving it forward. He added that while the UK would likely have objections, he still viewed unification as a positive outcome. A Trip Shaped by Security and Protest Trump arrived in Ireland Saturday morning for meetings with government leaders before heading to a golf tournament at his property in Doonbeg. His son Donald Trump Jr. and daughter-in-law Bettina also greeted officials after landing. During a ceremonial welcome, Trump listened to an Irish band perform the American and Irish national anthems alongside President Catherine Connolly. Asked afterward about rising tensions in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, Trump said the situation would "work out fine." The visit lands at a politically delicate moment for Trump, arriving weeks before the US midterm elections and amid concerns that a Houthi offensive in Yemen could widen the broader conflict with Iran. For much of the trip, Trump was kept apart from the public and demonstrators, traveling by motorcade to government residences inside Phoenix Park, which authorities closed off starting Friday night. There, he met with Martin and later addressed business leaders at the residence of US Ambassador Edward Walsh. A White House official said the discussions centered on economic ties, opportunities for American businesses, and broader international issues. Economic Ties Complicate Public Sentiment Ireland's government faces a balancing act with the visit: US firms with European headquarters based in the country are central to its economy, yet Trump remains broadly unpopular among Irish citizens. Thousands marched through Dublin in protest Saturday afternoon, some carrying Palestinian flags. One demonstrator, Eudie Moriarty of County Clare, told CNN she respects the office of the American presidency but not Trump personally. Additional protests took place near Trump's Doonbeg golf course and at Shannon Airport, a longtime site of anti-war demonstrations tied to US military use of the facility — a legacy that dates back to protests during Ronald Reagan's 1984 visit. Trump said he was not aware protests were planned and downplayed their scale, despite having just arrived in the country hours earlier. A CNN photojournalist documented a group of roughly 20 to 30 protesters gathered in Doonbeg and Shannon. Trump and Ireland's President Trade Barbs, Then Compliments After his Dublin meetings, Trump traveled to Doonbeg for the Irish Open. His son Eric Trump told RTÉ that the golf course is the area's largest employer and encouraged skeptics to hear directly from locals about the family's investment in the community. President Connolly, who took part in anti-Trump protests during his 2019 visit before her 2025 election, had previously accused Trump of enabling "genocide" through arms support. Trump, for his part, misgendered Connolly earlier this year when asked about her criticism of Middle East policy, responding dismissively about nations he described as reckless with nuclear weapons. Despite that history, the two leaders avoided visible friction during the visit. Trump called Connolly "terrific" in his later remarks, while her office said she told him that normalizing war and genocide was unacceptable to the Irish public. Trump also offered mixed remarks about Ireland more broadly, criticizing European immigration and trade policy while praising the Irish people's warmth — with a caveat about their toughness, calling them among the most formidable people he's encountered, though also among the kindest. This story has been updated with additional developments. Correction: This article has been revised to reflect that English is an official language in two European Union countries, and to correct the signing date of the Good Friday Agreement.