US President Donald Trump has reiterated his support for a united Ireland, saying during a visit to the Republic of Ireland that he believed reunification would eventually happen and would be “a fantastic thing”.
Trump made the remarks after meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin, where the two discussed subjects including trade. He repeated his position at the Irish Open at his golf course in Doonbeg, western Ireland, the following day.
The comments were notable because previous US presidents, including Joe Biden, had avoided directly expressing a view on Irish unification. The issue remains politically sensitive in Northern Ireland, where nationalists generally support joining the Republic of Ireland and unionists favour remaining part of the United Kingdom.
Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended three decades of violence known as the Troubles, a referendum on Northern Ireland’s constitutional status can be called at the discretion of the British government. More than 3,500 people died during the conflict, according to the report.
The comments came shortly after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said a referendum was “off the table”. His office said that position remained unchanged and pointed to his support for the Good Friday Agreement. Burnham has said the UK would consider a vote only if public opinion changed to the point that the issue had to be addressed.
Gavin Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, said Northern Ireland’s future would be determined by its people rather than by politicians in London, Dublin or Washington. He said the region remained part of the UK because that was the settled democratic will of its population.
Sinn Féin welcomed Trump’s remarks, although the party differs from him on many other political issues. Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams also described the comments as welcome.
Trump was asked separately about Scottish independence but declined to give a view, saying he would “save that for another day”. Scotland voted in 2014 to remain part of the UK. The leaders of the main Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish separatist parties were reported to be due to meet in Cardiff to discuss their campaigns.