British politicians have strongly criticised Donald Trump after the US president said he would “love to see” a united Ireland.
Kemi Badenoch led the backlash against comments made during Trump’s meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin, part of a two-day visit to the Republic focused on politics and golf.
Sitting alongside the Taoiseach, Trump, 80, said the reunification of Ireland and Northern Ireland would “happen eventually” and described it as a “great thing”.
The remarks mark the latest controversy involving a US president under whom the special relationship between Washington and the UK has reached what critics describe as its lowest point.
Northern Irish politicians, along with figures on the Right of British politics, were quick to condemn the comments last night.
Conservative leader Mrs Badenoch accused Trump of “shooting from the hip as usual”. She added: “This sort of loose talk about the future of democratic countries is deeply unhelpful and creates unnecessary tension.”
Nigel Farage also distanced himself from his close ally. He said: “Northern Ireland is a proud and integral part of the United Kingdom. The people of Northern Ireland neither want a referendum, nor unification. I disagree with President Trump.”
The comments, however, were welcomed by supporters of Irish reunification. Claire Hanna, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said: “In the last hour Donald Trump has announced that he is in favour of a united Ireland. It turns out that he isn’t as orange as he looks.”
US President Donald Trump said he would “love to see a unified Ireland” during a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin on Saturday
President Donald Trump is greeted by Irish President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin’s Phoenix Park
President Donald Trump meets Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his wife, Mary O’Shea, at Farmleigh House in Dublin on Saturday
Trump made the comments while seated beside the Taoiseach at the Farmleigh Estate. Asked about the prospect of uniting the island, he said: “I don’t want to cause any trouble, but I’ll tell you I would love to see a unified Ireland.”
He continued: ‘I think it would be a great feather in everybody’s cap if that happened. It’s going to happen eventually.
‘You know how I see it, it’s going to happen eventually; it may as well happen now… I think it would be a fantastic thing.
‘Now the UK will have something to say about it, obviously, but I think it would be a great thing.’
Mr Trump also warned today that any conflict over the Falkland Islands between the UK and Argentina would be a ‘disaster’, but said that he would be able to ‘settle it.’
This morning Communities Secretary Angela Rayner refused to get drawn into the row, telling Sky News: ‘Donald Trump is Donald Trump and the president will say and speak his mind as he sees it.
‘But look, we’re really serious about the Good Friday Agreement. We’re very proud of our history.’
The President’s comments about a united Ireland were met with criticism from unionist leaders in Northern Ireland.
The Taoiseach and Mr Trump shake hands as they meet each other at Farmleigh House, Dublin this morning
President Trump waves at Dublin Airport before stepping into a waiting motorcade
Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson posted on X: ‘President Trump knows better than most that elections matter.
‘Northern Ireland’s constitutional future will be decided by the people of Northern Ireland, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington.
‘Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom because that is the settled democratic will of its people.
‘I am confident NI will continue to choose the UK and the security it offers. As unionists, we are not interested in the destruction of our country by joining with the Irish Republic.’
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said Mr Trump ‘is not the first US president to meddle in the affairs which don’t concern him’.
He added: ‘Northern Ireland is not a pawn in Trump’s fall-out with the UK. Our constitutional future does not depend on him or any other foreign dignitary.’
Former SDLP leader and MP for Foyle Colum Eastwood, an open critic of the US president, shared a clip of Mr Trump’s remarks on social media, adding: ‘Always liked him.’
