US President Donald Trump According to his own statement, he would “love” one Reunification of Ireland and Northern Ireland see. “I have friends on both sides, they are great people. They are Irish, how could that be a bad thing,” Trump said on Saturday after meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin. The government in London immediately rejected Trump’s statements on Saturday.
The reunification of the country, which has been divided for over a century, would be a “great success” that everyone could be proud of, Trump said. “The way I see it, it will happen at some point anyway. Then it might as well happen now,” said the US President. Turning to Martin, Trump added that he was “exactly the right” man for it. However, the United Kingdom would also have something to say about it. “But I think it would be a great thing,” Trump said.
Just a little later, during a speech at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Dublin, Trump reiterated his assessment, saying reunification would be a “pretty cool thing.” At the same time, he joked that there was no good answer to this question. Every question in the press was designed to catch him. “I gave a nice answer, I think. We’ll read about it tomorrow,” Trump said.
Trump also discussed the close economic relations at the meeting with Martin. US companies employ about ten percent of the workforce in Ireland. “You excluded us, but that’s okay,” said Trump, referring to the settlement of pharmaceutical and technology companies. The relationship with Ireland is fantastic. Trump traveled to Ireland for 48 hours for the Irish Open golf tournament, which is taking place at one of his golf courses.
British government rejects referendum
The British government immediately rejected Trump’s statements. Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s stance remains unchanged: a referendum on Northern Ireland’s secession from the United Kingdom is not up for debate, she said.
Northern Ireland’s largest pro-British unionist party, the DUP, also rejected Trump’s comments. Reunification would lead to the “destruction of our country,” wrote DUP leader Gavin Robinson on the online platform X. The constitutional future of Northern Ireland will be decided by the people there, not by comments from London, Dublin or Washington.
Only London can call a referendum on Irish reunification
According to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, a referendum on whether Northern Ireland should remain in the United Kingdom can only be called by the British government. The treaty ended decades of violent conflict between Catholic nationalists seeking union with Ireland and Protestant unionists.
A majority in Northern Ireland support remaining in the United Kingdom, according to polls, but the margin has shrunk since Britain left the European Union. Ireland is an EU member. Previous US presidents had always remained neutral on the Irish issue. The USA played a mediating role in the peace agreement.
Trump wants to visit the Irish Open golf tournament
Trump arrived in Ireland on Saturday. According to Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris, he was “very much” looking forward to his golf course on the west coast of Ireland. “He is a man who obviously loves golf and he is very proud of his resort in Doonbeg and is looking forward to going there,” Harris told RTÉ on Saturday after welcoming Trump to the airfield in Dublin early on his two-day visit, which included official political appointments.
Trump was then received by Irish President Catherine Connolly in front of her residence in Áras an Uachtaráin. The US President traveled accompanied by his son Donald Trump Jr. and his family. Harris said it was the first visit by Trump’s grandchildren to Ireland. Plans for Sunday evening included a conversation with Prime Minister Micheál Martin and an appearance in front of US embassy employees and business representatives. The central reason for the trip is not politics, but the Irish Open golf tournament, which takes place at Trump’s golf resort in Doonbeg, western Ireland. The Republican wanted to watch the final round of the tournament on Sunday.
Protests planned
According to the Irish Broadcasting Corporation RTÉ However, not all Irish people are enthusiastic about the US President’s visit. A protest march was planned in Dublin, for example. And according to information, there should also be protests in Doonbeg and at Shannon Airport. The Irish police, also known as Gardaí, prepared for the visit with extensive security measures and, according to the PA news agency, speak of one of the most complex operations ever carried out. The security forces are also prepared to combat potential drones: special systems are designed to detect, track and, if necessary, fend off aircraft.
Commenting on Trump’s visit on Saturday, the Irish Times said: “He is probably the worst president Americans have ever elected. Most people would not welcome such a man into their home, and the majority of Irish people will not welcome this visit. However, leaders must take wider considerations into account. Whatever the man’s characteristics, the office deserves respect as part of the deep general bond between Ireland and the US. Trump’s term will end, and it is to be hoped that his country “The United States remains a great nation, and its many friends in Ireland and beyond can only wish it a speedy return to its better self.”