From BBC News · · 3m
Trump says a united Ireland would be 'fantastic'
A US president stood in Dublin, backed Irish unity, and set off a row that ran from Stormont to Doonbeg.
In brief
A US president stood in Dublin, backed Irish unity, and set off a row that ran from Stormont to Doonbeg. Trump's endorsement of a united Ireland changes the mood music, not the mechanism: only a Northern Ireland majority and a border poll can decide it. Originally reported by BBC News.
Trump backs Irish unity
On a two-day visit to Ireland, Donald Trump said he would love to see the island united and told reporters it would be a great thing.
“how can it be bad?”
Said at Farmleigh House
The comment came in a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Trump called unity a "fantastic thing" while nodding to London's role.
“now the UK would have something to say about it obviously”
He named Martin the man
Trump said unification would happen eventually and cast the Taoiseach as the person to push it along.
“the right man over here to get it moving”
Downing Street stays put
Number 10 pointed back to PM Andy Burnham's Commons line that he will stick to the Good Friday Agreement completely.
“will stick to it (the Good Friday Agreement) 100%”
The border poll test
Under the Good Friday Agreement the Northern Ireland secretary must call a referendum if it looks likely a majority there would vote for unification.
Dublin and London split
Martin wants clarity on when a poll can be called. Burnham has already ruled one out, calling it off the table.
Nationalists see momentum
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald said the onus is now on the Taoiseach to start planning. The SDLP's Claire Hanna called the Dublin remarks extraordinary.
“it tells you something about just how far this conversation has shifted”
Unionists push back
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the decision belongs to people in Northern Ireland. TUV's Jim Allister accused Trump of meddling, and Ian Paisley called the opinion wrong.
“everyone is allowed a personal opinion even when it's wrong”
Consent is the condition
Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said a change of this size can only happen with the consent of the Irish people, and that it needs work.
“Something to this magnitude can only happen where there's consent”
Then he dodged it
At the US ambassador's residence later, Trump said there was "no good answer" on a united Ireland and joked the answer would be read about the next day.
“Oh that's a nice question, I have a nice answer, I think, we'll read about it tomorrow.”
Connolly raises Gaza
Irish President Catherine Connolly met Trump at Áras an Uachtaráin and said she told him the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted.
“the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted”
10,000 march in Dublin
The protest near O'Connell Street took 31 minutes to pass. Gaza dominated the placards and chants, though Trump had already left the city.
“He's causing chaos around the world”
Doonbeg protests too
Demonstrators gathered near Trump's County Clare hotel amid road closures and a heavy Garda presence. Jessie Phillips, from Tennessee, came with a placard.
“he's not welcome here or over there in my opinion”
Golf, security, and trade
Trump flew in on Air Force One for one of the largest security operations in the state's history, talked trade with Martin, and headed to the Amgen Irish Open.
“It's never been as good as it is right now.”
At a glance
Trump's endorsement of a united Ireland changes the mood music, not the mechanism: only a Northern Ireland majority and a border poll can decide it.
