A united Ireland would be 'fantastic' says Trump during Irish visit

US President Donald Trump has said he would love to see a united Ireland while at a meeting with the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) during a visit in Dublin.

Trump is on a two-day visit to the country where earlier he had a courtesy call with the Irish President Catherine Connolly at the Áras an Uachtaráin - the official residence of the Irish president.

He has been attending meetings in Dublin, before travelling to the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament later on Saturday.

Trump said a united Ireland would happen eventually and that the Taoiseach was "the right man over here to get it moving".

During his meeting with Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House, in Phoenix Park, Trump said a united Ireland would be a "fantastic thing", and added: "now the UK would have something to say about it obviously but I think it would be a great thing, I mean, how can it be bad?"

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said 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," he said.

He added that Northern Ireland is part of the UK because it is the "settled democratic will of its people" and added he is confident the country will continue to choose the UK.

Former DUP MP Ian Paisley and close friend of the Trump family said: "everyone is allowed a personal opinion even when it's wrong".

The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister said Trump "is not the first US President to meddle in the affairs which don't concern him".

"Northern Ireland not a pawn in Trump's fall out with the UK. Our constitutional future does not depend on him or any other foreign dignitary," Allister added.

Later, while attending an event at the US Ambassador to Ireland's residence, Trump said there is "no good answer" to a question about a united Ireland.

Recalling the moment, he said: "Oh that's a nice question, I have a nice answer, I think, we'll read about it tomorrow."

Trump also said his country's relationship with Ireland is "stronger than ever".

During his meeting with the Taoiseach, Trump said: "We've a big relationship with Ireland."

"The two countries do very well together," he said, adding: "It's never been as good as it is right now."

He was greeted by Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris and Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee at Dublin Airport on Saturday morning.

Trump was welcomed at the Áras an Uachtaráin by President Connolly.

President Connolly, an outspoken Gaza activist who has been critical of the US and said Trump is acting "like a bully" over tariffs, has come under pressure to raise issues in the Middle East during her brief meeting with the US president.

Sinn Féin and a series of other parties in the Republic who backed her in the Irish presidency campaign last year have called on her to raise Gaza during her meeting with Trump.

Ireland is one of the most pro-Palestinian countries in the European Union and has been criticised for its stance by Israel.

Irish authorities have been planning for Trump's visit for months in what is one of the biggest security operations in the history of the state.

On Friday night Trump boarded Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, near the US capital Washington DC, and flew out for his trip to Ireland.

He visited the Republic in 2019, when he spent time at his golf course, but he also visited in 2023.

A small number of crowd control barriers are beside the American Embassy in central Dublin but President Trump is not scheduled to be anywhere near the building.

Several protesters have also started to gather in Doonbeg, a few miles from Trump's hotel where he will attend the Irish Open.

He will be accompanied by his sons Eric and Donald Trump Junior.

There is a heavy Garda (Irish Police) presence, road closures and countless tricolour bunting through the village.

She lives in county Clare but is originally from Tennessee and said she was protesting as a "concerned member of the public".

"I just want him [President Trump] to see my placard so he knows I don't care for him and that my family doesn't care for him and that he's not welcome here or over there in my opinion."

Jenelle Jones is in Doonbeg but is originally from New York City.

"I think especially as a US citizen I feel the need to show that we don't all agree with him and we want him out," she said.

I hope our activity here changes the minds of some people," he said.

"I think our overzealous approach to this welcome is fundamentally crazy."

From JFK to Biden, Trump joins well-trodden path to the Emerald Isle