US President Donald Trump has stated that a united Ireland would be a "fantastic thing", declaring during an official visit to Dublin that unification will happen eventually.

Speaking alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park, Mr Trump described the Irish Prime Minister as "the right man over here to get it moving". The US president acknowledged the British government's position on the matter, telling reporters: "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?"

Later in the day, during a gathering at the US Ambassador's residence, Mr Trump struck a slightly different note, saying there is "no good answer" to questions surrounding a united Ireland. He added that discussions between the two leaders covered several topics, including international trade.

The two-day visit began on Saturday morning with a courtesy call at Áras an Uachtaráin to meet Irish President Catherine Connolly. President Connolly, an outspoken Gaza activist who faced pressure from the left-wing parties that backed her 2025 election campaign to confront Mr Trump, said she raised the Middle East conflict directly.

Following the meeting, President Connolly issued a statement saying she told the US president that "the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted". Drawing on Ireland's history of famine, colonisation, and the Troubles, she stressed the unique perspective Irish people offer regarding peace and conflict resolution.

Outside the political meetings, public opposition was clearly visible as more than 10,000 demonstrators marched through Dublin to protest against the US president. Irish police and security services had spent months preparing for the visit, overseeing one of the largest security operations in the history of the Irish state.

Under the Good Friday Agreement, the Northern Ireland secretary is required to call a border poll if it appears likely that a majority would back unification, though the criteria for triggering that mechanism remains a subject of ongoing debate. Earlier this week, Mr Martin called for clearer guidance on when a poll can be called, while an official, Burnham, dismissed the prospect as "off the table", arguing that a vote should only occur once public opinion clearly shifts to form a consensus.

The US president's intervention drew immediate responses across Irish politics. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald acknowledged the remarks and said the responsibility now rests with the Taoiseach to begin planning for unity. Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Claire Hanna called Mr Trump's stance "fairly extraordinary", suggesting it shows how far the debate has shifted when a US president treats Irish unity as an active conversation rather than a distant theory.

Ireland's Foreign Minister Helen McEntee reinforced the requirement for public approval, noting that a move of such magnitude requires the consent of the Irish people. Another comment cautioned that Northern Ireland's constitutional future must ultimately be determined by the people living there, rather than commentary issued from London, Dublin, or Washington.

Mr Trump, who previously visited the Republic in 2019 and 2023, is scheduled to travel to County Clare for the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament before concluding his trip. What remains to be seen is how Westminster will respond to his intervention in UK constitutional affairs, and I will be following this story — check back for updates.