Trump says unified Ireland would be 'fantastic' during Dublin visit

September 12, 2026 at 07:20 PM2 min

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US President Donald Trump said a unified Ireland would be 'fantastic' during a visit to Dublin on Saturday. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's spokesperson said his position on Irish unification remained unchanged. Trump's remarks came weeks after Burnham said a referendum on Northern Ireland leaving the UK was 'off the table'.

Key Facts

Trump said a unified Ireland would be 'fantastic' and 'going to happen eventually' during a visit to Dublin on September 12, 2026.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that he is not aware of majority public support for another referendum on Northern Ireland leaving the UK.
Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, a referendum on Northern Ireland leaving the UK can be held only at the discretion of the British government.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Northern Ireland's constitutional future will be decided by its people, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington.

Trump's Dublin Remarks

Trump made the comments while sitting next to Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin. Martin declined to respond to reporters' questions about the US president's remarks. Trump also met Irish President Catherine Connolly, who was elected head of state last year.

UK Government Position

Following Trump's comments, a spokesperson for Burnham said his position on Irish unification remained unchanged. Burnham told parliament on Wednesday that until there is majority public support for another referendum, there will not be one. The Good Friday Agreement ended three decades of violence known as The Troubles.

Unionist Reaction

Gavin Robinson, leader of the DUP, said Northern Ireland's future was a matter for its people to decide, not Trump. Robinson said elections matter and that Northern Ireland's constitutional future will be decided by its people. Polls show a comfortable majority in Northern Ireland favour remaining in the UK, though the gap has narrowed slightly since Brexit.