US President Donald Trump stated that a unified Ireland would be “fantastic,” addressing a complex and politically charged topic during a two-day visit to a major tournament at his private Irish golf course.
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During a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin, Trump expressed his desire to see the Republic of Ireland reunified with Northern Ireland, which remains part of the United Kingdom.
“I don’t want to cause any problems, but I’d love to see it unified,” Trump stated when asked for his opinion by a reporter. “It’s going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now.”
He added, “I think it would be a fantastic thing,” while noting that “the UK will have something to say about it, obviously.”
Competing visions of Northern Ireland—whether it should be Irish or British—sparked decades of violence that claimed approximately 3,600 lives. Previous US presidents, including those with strong ancestral and emotional ties like Joe Biden, have historically avoided commenting directly on the subject.
A century ago, when Ireland gained self-governance as a Roman Catholic-majority nation, a six-county region in the north with a Protestant majority remained part of the United Kingdom.
Northern Ireland became divided between two primary communities: nationalists—mostly Catholic—who sought union with the rest of Ireland, and largely Protestant unionists who wished to remain British.
These tensions eventually erupted into the Troubles, three decades of violence involving paramilitary groups on both sides and British troops.
A 1998 peace accord brokered largely by Washington largely ended the violence but left Northern Ireland’s ultimate status unresolved.
The agreement permits a vote on unification if it appears a majority would support it.
Newly appointed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated unequivocally that there will be no referendum on reunification unless there is a clear desire for one.
“I am not aware that there is majority public support for another referendum, and until that changes, there will not be one,” Burnham said.
Trump also held talks in Dublin with Irish President Catherine Connolly and is scheduled to address US and Irish business leaders at the US ambassador’s official residence before traveling to his oceanfront golf club in Doonbeg to watch the Irish Open golf championship.
Connolly, a left-wing politician, was among those who protested Trump’s 2019 visit to Ireland during his first term. She currently serves as Ireland’s elected head of state, a largely symbolic and ceremonial role.
A supporter of the Palestinian cause, she has previously criticized US policy in the Middle East and labeled the Republican president a “bully” in his dealings with other states, his approach to foreign policy, and his bilateral relations.
The Irish president met Trump at the end of a red carpet at her official residence in Dublin. They shook hands and chatted before going inside. Trump emerged alone moments later and saluted as an Irish Defence Forces band played the US national anthem and an Irish Army guard of honour was inspected.
Trump rebukes European allies
The US president also directed sharp criticism at European allies during a joint press conference with Martin, slamming them for what he perceives as a notable decline in their societies.
“I hate to see what’s happening with Europe. I hate to see what is happening on trade, energy, and immigration,” he stated. “Ooh… that immigration, what you’re doing to yourselves, you’re just killing yourselves.”
He also criticized Washington’s relationship with European allies as “disappointing,” citing many nations’ unwillingness to assist the Republican president with his Iran war efforts and the ensuing chaos following the closure of a strategic waterway, the Strait of Hormuz.
However, the US president asserted that his country is maintaining a working relationship with all its allies on the continent.
Trump’s visit represents the latest example of blending his official duties with personal interests.
Trump plays golf about every weekend at clubs he owns in Florida, New Jersey, and Virginia. His attendance at the Irish Open continues his trend of appearing at high-profile sporting events and organizing some of them in ways that benefit his family business.
His clubs in Doral, Florida, and Bedminster, New Jersey, have each hosted professional golf tournaments this year.
The Irish Open is the second European Tour event held at a Trump property this year, following the Nexo Championship at his golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Last year, Trump traveled to Scotland for five days to play golf at his Turnberry club and later inaugurated a new Trump golf course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire.
During that visit, he held talks with then-UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss his controversial global ‘reciprocal’ tariff policy.
