From The Conversation · Bryan McGovern · · 3m
Trump backs Irish unity, breaking 30 years of silence
A US president just took a side on Irish reunification, and almost everyone in Dublin, Belfast and London told him to stop.
In brief
A US president just took a side on Irish reunification, and almost everyone in Dublin, Belfast and London told him to stop. American presidents have talked warmly about Irish freedom for two centuries and almost never acted on it. Trump's endorsement follows that pattern. Originally reported by The Conversation.
A nationalist in two senses
Donald Trump is a Republican and a self-described nationalist. In Dublin on Sept. 12, 2026, it turned out those words carry a very different charge in Ireland.
May as well happen now
Sitting beside taoiseach Micheal Martin, Trump said he would love to see Ireland unified, that it is going to happen eventually, so it may as well happen now.
“going to happen eventually, so it may as well happen now”
Nobody wanted the help
The next day he called reunification a cool thing. Parties across the Republic and Northern Ireland denounced the remarks, the taoiseach included.
“No matter what you say or how you say it, there's no good answer.”
Unionists and allies revolt
Northern Irish unionists want the region to stay in the UK, and so do British conservatives. Trump ally Nigel Farage was among the loudest objectors.
Neutrality since 1998
The Good Friday Agreement settled the Troubles and locked US presidents into formal neutrality on unification. Trump just walked out of that posture.
Why the grievance runs deep
Britain colonized Ireland in the 12th century. Penal laws in the 1600s and 1700s shut Catholics out of wealth and power, and anti-English feeling spread across the island.
America as the model
Irish nationalism rose just as American colonists beat the British. Famine and disease pushed waves of emigrants across the Atlantic, and they lobbied US presidents for help.
Jackson's proud blood
Andrew Jackson, born to parents from County Antrim, was the first president of Irish descent. He wrote of Irish blood in his veins beating for Irish liberty, then did nothing about it.
“I have always been proud of my ancestry, and of being descended from the noble race.”
The Fenians get arrested
A Fenian claimed Andrew Johnson privately blessed an invasion of British Canada. When the 1866 raid happened, Johnson had the Fenians arrested for breaking neutrality laws.
Grant says no as well
Irish American Fenians who fought for the Union backed Grant in 1869, betting his wartime anger at England would pay off. He refused to help their Canada and Caribbean schemes.
Wilson's limited freedom
Wilson preached self-determination for all nationalities, then sided with wartime ally Britain during the Irish War of Independence. The 1922 treaty split the island in two.
“It's the principle of justice to all peoples of all nationalities”
Kennedy, then Clinton
JFK avoided unification as president despite backing it as a senator. Clinton hosted Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams over British objections, then used his neutrality to broker Good Friday.
“No people ever believed more deeply in the cause of Irish freedom than the people of the United States.”
Popular, but not soon
An EU poll found 63% in Northern Ireland and 59% in the Republic would vote for unification. With Britain firmly opposed, it still is not happening any time soon.
What matters most
American presidents have talked warmly about Irish freedom for two centuries and almost never acted on it. Trump's endorsement follows that pattern.
