UNITED STATES. “It will happen eventually”: in Dublin, Trump surprises by pleading for a “unified” Ireland

The visit was supposed to be focused more on golf than on diplomacy, and yet… Donald Trump, traveling primarily to attend the Irish Open organized in a complex belonging to his family, invited himself into a particularly delicate debate this Saturday by saying that he “would very much like” to see a “unified” Ireland, during a press briefing with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Dublin. “I think it would be fantastic,” said the American leader, when a journalist asked him for his opinion on a unification of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. “It will eventually happen,” said the 80-year-old leader.

The United States has until now displayed a neutral position on this issue. “He must stop the killings (in Gaza) and then he can talk about unifying Ireland,” responded Bob O’Connell, a 70-year-old retiree who took part in a demonstration against the American president in the center of Dublin, wearing a “Free Palestine” cap. London is sticking to peace deals signed in 1998 to end hostilities in Northern Ireland, under which a referendum can be held if a majority of residents in the British province are likely to approve unification. This is “not relevant”, said British Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently. Downing Street did not directly react to Trump’s statements, referring to Andy Burnham’s comments. A May 2026 poll by the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool gave only 35% of Northern Irish people in favor of unification.

In a speech afterwards at the American embassy in Dublin, Donald Trump relished the media attention given to his remarks. “It’s one of those questions where no matter what you say … there’s no right answer,” he said with a laugh. The Republican billionaire assured that he had an “excellent” relationship with the Irish Prime Minister, despite differences on many subjects, including trade and the Middle East. At least 4,000 police officers and members of the security forces are mobilized for this visit by the American president.