Donald Trump backs a United Ireland, saying it will ‘happen eventually’
US president Donald Trump views the guard of honour outside Aras an Uachtarain, ahead of his meeting with President Catherine Connolly. Picture: James Manning/PA Wire
President Donald Trump has said he wants to see a United Ireland, adding that it will “happen eventually”.
Mr Trump made the surprise intervention while answering a range of questions after meeting the Taoiseach in Farmleigh House.
He indicated that he would like to return for the Ryder Cup, which is being held in Ireland next year, and dismissed planned protests against his visit, claiming he had not heard of any.
Issuing strong support for a united Ireland, Mr Trump said he has friends on both sides of the border and queried: “How can it be bad?”
Adding that he does not want to “cause any problems” with British prime minister Andy Burnham, who recently said a border poll is off the table, Mr Trump said he would love to see unification.
“I will tell you, I'd love to see it unified. I have friends on both sides, great people. They're Irish people. How can they be bad, right? I'd love to see it unified.
“I think it'll be a great, a great feather in everybody's cap. It's going to happen eventually. You know what, the way I look at, it's going to happen eventually.
He added: “You get the right man over here to get it moving. But yeah, I think it would be a fantastic thing.
“Now the UK will have something to say about this, but I think it would be a great thing. I mean, how can it be bad?”
Mr Trump downplayed protests being organised against his visit to Ireland, stating he had not seen any on his way in from Dublin Airport to Phoenix Park.
Mr Trump, who arrived in Dublin shortly after 8am, claimed he had been “all over Ireland” this morning and had not witnessed protests, but he added that any protests would be “friendly”.
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