Trump Expresses Support for Unified Ireland, Calls It "Fantastic" During Dublin Visit

US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he would love to see a unified Ireland, calling it a fantastic thing that may as well happen now.

Mr. Trump made these comments during a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin at the Farmleigh Estate. He added that the UK would have something to say about it, obviously. The US is officially neutral on Irish unification, an issue that fueled decades of violence in Northern Ireland until a 1998 peace deal. Unionist leaders in Northern Ireland criticized Mr. Trump's remarks.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday there would not be another referendum on reunification unless there was an evident desire for one. Mr. Trump also met with Irish President Catherine Connolly and attended a major golf tournament at his course in Doonbeg. Protests were planned in Dublin and Doonbeg, with comedian Rosie O'Donnell backing the demonstrations.

Mr. Trump acknowledged his comments on unification would be controversial, saying, "No matter what you say or how you say it, there's no good answer." He also warned that any conflict over the Falkland Islands would be a disaster and spoke optimistically about the US war with Iran and its trade conflict with Canada.