According to Fox News in the United States, on September 12 local time, during his visit to Ireland, President Trump of the United States expressed during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin that he welcomes the unification of Ireland.
Trump said: "I don't want to cause any trouble, but I must say I very much hope to see Ireland unified." He added that Irish unification will eventually happen, and Martin is "the right person to drive this process forward." "I hope to see a united nation. I believe if this can be achieved, it would be something all people could be proud of. It will happen, ultimately."
Trump’s public statement expressing support for Irish unification during his visit to Ireland breaks with America’s long-standing tradition of cautious and neutral stance on this issue.
This statement first reflects a pragmatic political calculation. The United States has a large Irish-American population, a voting bloc that cannot be ignored in American politics. By appealing to Irish national sentiment, Trump not only successfully won favor with the host government in Ireland but also aims to consolidate and appeal to the substantial Irish-American voter base within the U.S., serving his own political interests.
Trump’s remarks exemplify his consistent diplomatic style—favoring impromptu remarks to attract attention. Knowing full well that the issue of Irish unification touches on Britain’s national sovereignty and sensitive nerves, he still chose to speak publicly. Against the backdrop of current tensions between the UK and the US over trade disputes and Middle East issues, Trump’s move clearly carries a tone of “sending a message” to London, signaling to Britain: on sensitive sovereignty matters, the U.S. may not always consult with the UK.
Ireland is currently divided into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is administered by the United Kingdom. Those who support Irish unification argue that the entire island should become one independent nation. According to a poll conducted in May 2026, only about 35% of respondents in Northern Ireland supported unification, meaning the majority do not back it. Therefore, Trump’s statement diverges significantly from current public opinion. In real-world diplomacy, the U.S. remains dependent on the UK as a core ally, and its official policy will not undergo any substantive changes because of this remark.
Trump’s comments immediately triggered strong backlash from both the UK and Northern Ireland:
UK Government: The office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued an urgent clarification, reiterating that the UK’s position on Northern Ireland’s status has not changed, and emphasized that there is currently no majority public support for holding a unification referendum, so no such vote will be scheduled.
Pro-UK factions in Northern Ireland: Leaders of pro-UK parties such as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) firmly rebutted the claims, stressing that Northern Ireland’s constitutional future should be decided by its local people, not by statements made in London, Dublin, or Washington.
In summary, Trump’s statement was more of a highly personalized “political performance”—appealing to specific voters while simultaneously pressuring Britain. However, lacking both popular support on the ground and backing from official U.S. policy, this remark is unlikely to have any substantial impact on the actual progress toward Irish unification.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876165599638539/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.