Donald Trump has said he would love to see a united Ireland, while holding a meeting with the the Irish prime minister, the Taoiseac, in Dublin.
With Micheál Martin seated beside him, 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?”
A spokesperson for Martin said Trump’s comments should “come as a surprise to no one” and the US president has been “consistent in his view that he sees unity in Ireland as the optimal outcome”.
In London, Downing Street referred to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s words on Wednesday in the House of Commons that he will stick to the Good Friday Agreement. It says the secretary of state must hold a border poll if it appears likely that a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for Irish unification. The circumstances of when that could happen is the subject of constant debate in Northern Ireland and the Republic. Earlier this week, Martin said there needed to be more clarity on when a border poll can be called.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she acknowledged Trumps comments on a united Ireland and said the onus is on the Taoiseach to begin planning.
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said Trump “knows better than most that elections matter” and said: “Northern Ireland’s constitutional future will be decided by the people of Northern Ireland, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington”.
Former DUP MP Ian Paisley and close friend of the Trump family said: “everyone is allowed a personal opinion even when it’s wrong”.
Trump is on a two-day visit to the Irish Republic and will be travelling to County Clare for the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament.
Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Chris Page.
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