President Trump expressed support for a unified Ireland during a visit to the country where he met with Prime Minister Micheál Martin and later attended the Irish Open at his Doonbeg golf course. When asked about unification, Trump said it "may as well happen now" but acknowledged that the U.K. would have input on the matter. The trip also drew criticism from some residents and opposition groups who protested against the president's presence in Ireland.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
During his visit to Dublin on September 12, US President Donald Trump expressed support for a unified Ireland, saying he would "love" to see Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland united. He met with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, suggesting that unification might happen now and emphasizing it would be positive despite potential objections from the UK. This statement drew criticism from unionist parties in Northern Ireland, such as the DUP, who oppose a unified Ireland, while Irish politicians acknowledged the complexities of the issue tied to historical tensions between Protestants and Catholics.
Written for “Trump visits Ireland unification remarks” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
President Trump said Saturday he would love to see a unified Ireland as he kicked off a visit to the country, where he will meet with leaders and attend a major golf tournament at one of his courses.
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he → say → courses
During a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin, Mr. Trump said the unification of the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, "may as well happen now.
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which → say → Kingdom
"I don't want to cause any problems but I'd love to see it unified.
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it → want → problems
I think it would be a fantastic thing," Mr. Trump said, adding that "the U.K. will have something to say about it, obviously.
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U.K. → think → it
When Ireland became a self-governing Roman Catholic-majority country a century ago, a six-county region in the north with a Protestant majority remained part of the United Kingdom.
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region → become → Kingdom
Tensions between Protestant unionists, who wanted to stay British, and Catholic nationalists, who wanted to join the rest of Ireland, led to three decades of violence.
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who → want → violence
A 1998 peace accord that the U.S. was instrumental in striking largely ended the violence but left Northern Ireland's ultimate status unresolved.
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U.S. → strike → status
U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham insisted last month that a unity referendum was "off the table," drawing a sharp response from the pro-unity party Sinn Féin.
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referendum → insist → party
"As unionists we are not interested in the destruction of our country by joining with the Irish Republic," Gavin Robinson, leader of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party, said on X in response to Mr. Trump's comments.
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Robinson → join → comments
Mr. Trump also held talks Saturday in Dublin with his Irish counterpart, Catherine Connolly.
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Trump → hold → counterpart
He addressed U.S. and Irish business leaders at the U.S. ambassador's official residence in Dublin before traveling to his oceanfront golf club in Doonbeg, on the other side of the country, to watch the Irish Open.
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He → address → Open
Some residents expressed annoyance over the disruption caused by the U.S. president's trip.
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residents → express → trip
"He's causing mayhem in this city because he wants to go down to Doonbeg and play golf," said taxi driver Christopher Fox, emphatically not a fan of the president.
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Fox → cause → president
"The world's in turmoil and this fella's down playing golf."
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fella → play → golf
University student Mina Petrovski said Mr. Trump's "attitudes towards women, towards immigrants, towards minority communities in general are abhorrent."
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attitudes → say → communities
She said it's "shameful that the Irish government is welcoming him with open arms."
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government → say → arms
Separately, a collection of left-leaning opposition parties, anti-military groups, pro-Palestinian organizations, environmentalists and others plan to demonstrate against the president in Dublin on Saturday.
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collection → lean → Saturday
Mr. Trump is an avid golfer who frequently plays at clubs he owns in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia.
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he → play → Florida
His attendance at the Irish Open continues his trend of appearing at high-profile sporting events - and having a hand in organizing some of them in ways that benefit his family business.
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that → continue → business
His clubs in Doral, Florida, and Bedminster, New Jersey, have each hosted professional golf tournaments this year.
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clubs → host → tournaments
The Irish Open is the second European Tour event to be held at a Trump property this year.
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Open → hold → property
The Nexo Championship was held last month at the president's golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland.
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Championship → hold → Aberdeen
