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Trump backs Irish unification, breaking precedent
The gist
Trump said in Dublin it would be "fantastic" if Northern Ireland and Ireland unified.
The remark breaks decades of U.S. neutrality on a divide tied to past violence.
How it unfolded
- Sep 12, 2026Shortly after arriving in Dublin, Trump said it would be "fantastic" if Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland unified, adding "It's going to happen eventually."
- Sep 12, 2026He made the remarks alongside Micheál Martin, Ireland's taoiseach (prime minister).
- Sep 12, 2026Later at Deerfield Residence, where the U.S. ambassador lives, Trump said he still believed it would "be a cool thing" if Northern Ireland broke away from the United Kingdom, joking that half the room would clear out.