US President Donald Trump said he would “love” to see a united Ireland and believes the goal will be achieved eventually, while speaking to reporters during a weekend trip to Dublin and to his Irish golf course.
During remarks after meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Trump described Irish reunification as “a fantastic thing” and said he did not want to cause problems. He said he believes it is “going to happen eventually”, adding that the UK would also have a role in any outcome.
He made the comments after holding talks in Dublin on Saturday with Ireland’s largely ceremonial head of state, President Catherine Connolly.
Meetings With Martin And President Connolly
Trump’s remarks came following his meeting with Martin, the taoiseach, in Dublin after talks with Connolly earlier in the visit.
Connolly is a left-wing politician who was among those who protested during Trump’s visit to Ireland in 2019, when he was in his first term as US president. She is now Ireland’s elected, largely ceremonial head of state. Connolly has previously supported the Palestinian cause and has criticised US policy in the Middle East, including calling Trump a “bully” in the past.
At Connolly’s official residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, Trump was greeted by the Irish president at the end of a red carpet. They shook hands and spoke briefly before both went inside. Trump then emerged alone as an Irish Defence Forces band played the US national anthem, and he inspected an Irish Army honour guard.
Connolly later joined Trump outdoors to introduce the US and Irish delegations before the leaders returned inside for closed-door discussions.
Golf Focus, Security Cordons And Local Friction
The visit is centred largely on a major golf tournament hosted on a course Trump owns on Ireland’s Atlantic coast. After his engagements in Dublin, Trump is due to address US and Irish business leaders at the US ambassador’s official residence before travelling across the country to Doonbeg to watch the Irish Open.
Local disruption has drawn criticism. Police placed a cordon around Phoenix Park, a 1,750-acre (700-hectare) area where Trump met Connolly. Some residents said the arrangements caused inconvenience.
Taxi driver Christopher Fox said the city had been disrupted and argued that Trump’s plans to travel to Doonbeg for golf were behind the disruption.
Eric Trump Says The Family Has Support
Trump’s son, Eric Trump, said the Trump family is well regarded in Ireland despite planned protests during his father’s trip.
Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTE on Friday from Doonbeg—home to the Trump International resort—Eric Trump said the golf course is the largest employer in the local area. He also urged viewers to speak to people in Doonbeg about whether they like the president and the Trump family, saying local feedback would reflect what the family has invested in the country.
Sept 11 Anniversary And Planned US-Ireland Talks
Trump flew overnight to Ireland after marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Ahead of the solemn observance on Friday, the Republican president spent two nights in Dallas delivering lengthy speeches at a political rally.
Martin invited Trump to visit Ireland after meeting at the White House on St Patrick’s Day earlier this year. Ireland’s political leaders are expected to see the visit as an opportunity to maintain close trans-Atlantic ties, even as differences remain over trade and foreign policy, issues the White House said Trump intends to discuss.
Before Trump arrived, Martin said he looked forward to discussions on matters of mutual interest and to reaffirming the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people links between Ireland and the United States.
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12 September 2026
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