Trump visits Ireland
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The gist
Trump arrived in Dublin Saturday for a two-day visit and called a unified Ireland "fantastic."
The remark touches a constitutional nerve in Ireland and drew planned protests in Dublin.
Background
Trump's visit mixes official meetings in Dublin with a weekend at his golf resort in Doonbeg, where he is expected at the Amgen Irish Open. It follows a tense public exchange with Irish President Catherine Connolly, a left-wing politician who once called him "volatile" and "unpredictable" and protested his 2019 visit. His comment on Irish unification landed against the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, under which a referendum on leaving the UK can be held only at the discretion of the British government.
How it unfolded
- Sep 11, 2026Gardaí declare an extraordinary event; two water cannon are to be sent from Northern Ireland and gardaí are to perform 10,000 12-hour shifts between Friday and Sunday.
- Sep 12, 2026Trump arrives at Dublin Airport on Air Force One Saturday morning for a two-day visit.
- Sep 12, 2026He spends the morning at Phoenix Park, meeting President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin and Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House, and holds closed-door talks with both.
- Sep 12, 2026Sitting next to Martin, Trump says a unified Ireland would be "fantastic" and that he would "love to see it unified."
- Sep 12, 2026Trump is to address U.S. and Irish business leaders at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Dublin before traveling to Doonbeg; police put up a cordon around the 1,750-acre Phoenix Park.
- Sep 13, 2026Trump is expected to attend the Amgen Irish Open's closing weekend at his Doonbeg course and could present the winner's trophy Sunday evening.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Trump said he would "love to see it unified" and that "it's going to happen eventually," adding that the UK "will have something to say about it."
- Party
- DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Northern Ireland's constitutional future will be decided by the people of Northern Ireland, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington.
- Official
- A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said his position on Irish unification remained unchanged; Burnham has said there will be no referendum until there is majority public support for one.
- Public
- Dublin taxi driver Christopher Fox said Trump is "causing mayhem in this city because he wants to go down to Doonbeg and play golf," and student Mina Petrovski called his attitudes toward women, immigrants and minorities "abhorrent."
- Support
- Eric Trump said the family is loved in Ireland despite the protests planned over his father's visit.
Still unverified
A ceremonial groundbreaking for a new U.S. Embassy in Dublin had been considered as part of the trip but is now unlikely to take place, according to BBC. Trump's itinerary, including the meetings with Connolly and Martin, is according to reports from the BBC. Trump is expected to help present the trophy on Sunday to the tournament champion.