US President Donald Trump stated at a joint press conference with Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin in Dublin that he would like to see a united Ireland. He said that this would eventually happen and \u00abcould happen right now\u00bb. The President\u2019s comments drew objections from the British Government and unionist politicians in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n In response to a journalist\u2019s question, Trump<\/strong> said that the unification of Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland would be \u00abfantastic\u00bb. He acknowledged that the United Kingdom would have its own position, but asked, \u00abhow could that be a bad thing?\u00bb.<\/p>\n Later on Saturday, the president acknowledged that the issue would be controversial. He said that there was no good answer to such questions, regardless of how they were phrased, but he considered his response to be \u00abpleasant\u00bb and described the merger as \u00aba really cool thing\u00bb.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s remarks differed from the approach taken by previous US administrations, which had sought to remain neutral regarding the island\u2019s constitutional future. At the same time, the spontaneous nature of the comment suggests that there has been a change in official policy Washington<\/a> did not take place.<\/p>\n Spokesperson Downing Street<\/strong> reported that the Prime Minister still does not believe there is the necessary support to hold a referendum in accordance with the Belfast Agreement.<\/p>\n Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party Gavin Robinson<\/strong> He stated that decisions on Northern Ireland\u2019s constitutional future are made by its residents, not by comments from London, Dublin or Washington. He said he was confident that the choice would continue to be in favour of the United Kingdom and the security it offers.<\/p>\n Former leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party Colum Eastwood<\/strong> shared a video on social media featuring Trump\u2019s remarks and wrote: \u00abI\u2019ve always liked him.\u00bb The leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Beidenok<\/strong> described the President\u2019s statement as ill-advised and likely to create unnecessary tension.<\/p>\n The visit began with a formal meeting at \u00c1ras an Uachtar\u00e1in \u2014 the official residence and workplace of the President of Ireland Catherine Connolly<\/strong>. Following a private conversation, she stated that she had conveyed the Irish people\u2019s conviction that the normalisation of war and genocide cannot be accepted, and also emphasised the importance of UN<\/a>. Trump described Connolly as \u00abwonderful\u00bb and said that they had discussed, amongst other things, energy and water.<\/p>\n\n
The statement was made at the start of a two-day visit<\/h2>\n
London and the Unionists have reacted to Trump\u2019s comments<\/h2>\n
The meetings in Dublin covered the war, Iran and the pharmaceutical industry<\/h2>\n