Trump Ireland visit live: No 10 responds to Trump's support for united Ireland

Trump Ireland visit live: No 10 responds to Trump's support for united Ireland Donald Trump declared he would 'love to see' a united Ireland while taking questions alongside Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin this morning Donald Trump declared his support for a united Ireland while taking questions alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin this morning. The US President is visiting Ireland for two days, and has said he would "love to see" the unification of the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland. "The UK would have something to say about it but I think it would be a great thing," he said. There were gasps in the room as he said it. In response, Downing Street referred to what Andy Burnham said in the House of Commons on Wednesday - that he "will stick to [the Good Friday Agreement] 100%". Trump also weighed in on the Falklands, saying he did not know if the UK is “going to be willing to travel that far” should there be a dispute with Argentina, adding he was “sure I’ll be called into that potential disaster” and would be able to “settle it out”. Meanwhile, controversial aide Natalie Harp has been spotted among the US delegation in Ireland. Questions have been swirling about her personal relationship with the US President as she is reported to have frequently left "intimate" letters for him, saying things like "You are all that matters to me," and "I don't ever want to let you down...I want to bring you joy." Key Events He arrived into Ireland on his new Qatar gift Air Force One on Saturday morning, where he met the country’s deputy premier Simon Harris at Dublin Airport. The US commander-in-chief then met Irish President Catherine Connolly, one of his long-standing critics, at her official residence Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. However, it was his next meeting with Irish premier Micheál Martin that caused the biggest stir – as Mr Trump weighed in on the constitutional question by claiming Irish unification was inevitable. Answering a question from the Press Association, the 47th president said he “would love to see” Ireland unified, adding: “It’s going to happen eventually.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the president of “shooting from the hip” regarding comments made about a potential unification, adding: “This sort of loose talk about the future of democratic countries is deeply unhelpful and creates unnecessary tension.” Mrs Badenoch also called for “clarity” from Mr Burnham in defence of the union. Tensions between Britain and America have intensified after Donald Trump voiced his backing for a unified Ireland. The US president declared that Irish reunification was unavoidable during a press conference alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin, suggesting it "may as well happen now". Read more here. Shane Lowry will take a four-shot lead into the final round of the Amgen Irish Open following a round that was played amid the arrival of United States President Donald Trump on Air Force One. Lowry, the home favourite, closed in on a first individual title since 2022 after shooting a five-under-par 65 at the Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Doonbeg, with Dane Jacob Skov Olesen in second. After a series of engagements in Dublin in the morning, Mr Trump travelled to the Doonbeg golf resort he owns in Co Clare where he watched some of the action at the Irish Open with his family on Saturday evening. He was given a rapturous reception as he made a brief appearance in the members’ bar of the hotel. Punters cheered, chanted: “USA” and sang songs as Mr Trump filed through the bar on Saturday night. Three women have appeared in court charged with offences allegedly committed at Donald Trump’s golf course in Doonbeg, Co Clare. On Friday evening, a woman in her 20s was arrested for trespassing on the golf links. On Saturday, a woman in her 30s and one in her 40s were arrested for public order offences at the site. The three women appeared at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday evening. Unionist leaders in Northern Ireland have criticised Donald Trump after he said he would “love to see” a United Ireland. On Saturday DUP leader Gavin Robinson posted on X: “President Trump knows better than most that elections matter. Northern Ireland’s constitutional future will be decided by the people of Northern Ireland, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington. “Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom because that is the settled democratic will of its people. I am confident NI will continue to choose the UK and the security it offers. As unionists we are not interested in the destruction of our country by joining with the Irish Republic.” TUV leader Jim Allister said Mr Trump “is not the first US president to meddle in the affairs which don’t concern him”. He added: “Northern Ireland is not a pawn in Trump’s fall-out with the UK. Our constitutional future does not depend on him or any other foreign dignitary.” Donald Trump said Irish unification would be “a very cool thing” as he joked that there was “no good answer” to the question. The US President made the comments while discussing a question about Irish unification earlier at a press conference at Farmleigh House in Dublin. Speaking at the US ambassador’s residence in Ireland, Trump said: “You have to understand with the press, with me, every question’s a kill". He added: “But they’re going for the kill at all times, and they ask me a question: ‘What do you think about unification of Northern Ireland and Ireland?’ I said: ‘Oh, that’s a nice question’. I gave a nice answer, I think. We’ll read about it tomorrow. “That’s one of those questions where, no matter what you say, no matter how well you say it, there’s no good answer, right? “There are about four or five, I could tell you some other ones, but I’m not going to get you started. But that was one of the questions. But I actually said it would be, I think, a very cool thing. To be honest with you, I think it would be cool. “As half the room clears out, they say: ‘Let’s get the hell out of here. I don’t like this guy. I liked him a lot 10 minutes ago. I don’t like him’.” A major protest in Dublin against Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland has finished. Thousands of people marched through the city to voice opposition against the US president’s trip. The event concluded with a rally on Molesworth Street, outside the front of the Dáil parliament. Activists and politicians gave speeches denouncing Mr Trump while musicians played songs and the crowd chanted in opposition to the president. Donald Trump has been pictured with his son Eric Trump as they watch the Irish Open at the US President's International Golf Links course in Doonbeg, Ireland. Shane Lowry had to wait for a few moments after his tee shot on the second hole due to the arrival of Donald Trump to the course. The Offaly man remains on 12-under as Rory McIlroy pars the seventh and remains 14 shots off his close friend and Ryder Cup teammate. Donald Trump hit out at NATO for not helping the US with issues involving the Strait of Hormuz. In his speech, Trump said: “Very disappointing in many ways, NATO didn’t want to help us with the strait, even though we don’t get any oil from the strait. We don’t need it. We have a lot of oil. We have more oil than anybody, as you know. “But we thought it was important.” He said after asking NATO officials if they would “like to help us with the Hormuz Strait”, they responded with: “No, we’d rather not get involved.” Air Force One has just landed at Shannon Airport in County Clare, with Trump on board. The US President will now be heading to his golf course in Doonbeg to watch the Irish Open tournament. Irish President Catherine Connolly said she “conveyed the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted” in a meeting with Donald Trump. In a statement following the meeting at Áras an Uachtaráin, Ms Connolly said: “As president of Ireland, I am very conscious that Ireland and the United States of America are bound by strong ties. This is a deep connection, built over centuries, which allows us to speak openly to one another. “We are in a world facing the existential threat posed by war and climate change, both of which are inextricably interlinked. “I conveyed the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted. “As a country which has suffered famine, colonisation and the violence of the Troubles, but also the importance of the long and challenging road to peace, I emphasised the unique insight which Irish people can bring to the resolution of conflict. “I highlighted to President Trump the strong commitment which the Irish people have to international relations, to the importance of the United Nations, including the pride which Irish people feel in Ireland’s contribution to UN peacekeeping since 1958, and to the obligations contained within article 29 of our constitution towards the peaceful resolution of international disputes. “I assured President Trump that the Irish people would strongly support all those who have the strength to build a shared peace in all those parts of the world currently suffering from such horrific war and violence.” To mark the courtesy call, Ms Connolly gifted Mr Trump a St Brigid’s Cross, a copy of the book Navigatio Sancti Brendani – The Voyage of St Brendan and the collected poems of Michael Longley, including his sonnet Ceasefire. Anti-Trump protesters have gathered in Dublin today. Participants carried banners and flags, and chanted “Donald Trump, can you hear? We don’t want you here.” Earlier Trump told reporters: "I haven't seen any protests," before joking: "It's a friendly protest." Trump will soon be heading to the Irish Open. Donald Trump said the UK and Europe are “just killing yourselves” through immigration. Discussing his administration’s deportation policy, Mr Trump said: “We got them the hell out and, frankly, the United Kingdom has to do the same thing. “I hate to tell you, they could watch what we’ve done, and so could other Europeans, you know, I love Europe. My mother was from Scotland, father was from Germany. Love Europe. I have a natural inclination. “I sort of hate to see what’s happening with Europe. I hate to see what’s happening on trade. I hate to see what’s happening on energy. “And I hate to see what’s happening on immigration. Oh, that immigration, what you’re doing to yourselves, you’re just killing yourselves.” Downing Street has responded to Donald Trump saying he would "love to see" a united Ireland. Number 10 referred to what Andy Burnham said in the House of Commons on Wednesday - that he "will stick to [the Good Friday Agreement] 100%". Burnham added that "the question of a border poll" was for the Northern Ireland secretary "when there is clear consensus in the country - when public opinion has changed to the point at which the call has to be considered". Trump has now made the short journey from Farmleigh House to the Deerfield Residence, which is the US ambassador's to Ireland's official residence. Speaking there, he doubled down on his united Ireland comments, saying there is "no good answer... no matter what you say, no matter how well you say it". He added that unification "would be cool". There were gasps in the room as Trump earlier declared his support for a united Ireland. Trump said he would "love to see" the reunification of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, adding that it is "going to happen eventually, it may as well happen now". Donald Trump said there is “very little happening” in Gaza, adding that the US “facilitated a peace of a kind”. When asked how he would respond to people who say the US is “facilitating genocide in Gaza”, the US President said: “When you say Gaza, we put out the fire. We got all the hostages back. “There’s very little happening right now in Gaza. That’s not the place that people are talking about actually now. “It was all about Gaza, and we got involved and we facilitated a peace of a kind, but we got all the hostages back.” Trump said he did not know if the UK is “going to be willing to travel that far” to the Falkland Islands should there be a dispute with Argentina over sovereignty, adding he was “sure I’ll be called into that potential disaster” and would be able to “settle it out”. Mr Trump said: “Well, the Falkland Islands is very interesting because here we go again. “I remember as a young boy, a pretty young boy anyway, but the Falkland Islands, and I think it was a different country at that time, the UK a little bit, but they went in and they took it over. “I’m not sure they’re doing that. They have a little problem with immigration. “They have a little problem with energy and then have some other problems they have to take care of. “So, I don’t know. You know, I don’t know if they’re going to be willing to travel that far. “That is very far away. You’re talking about weeks by boat. I don’t know. “I’m sure I’ll be called into that potential disaster, but if they do, I’ll probably be able to settle, settle it out. “But right now, you have two countries that are not happy concerning the Falklands.” Donald Trump said that he would “love” to see Ireland unified and that “it may as well happen now” as it is “going to happen eventually”. Speaking while sitting alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Mr Trump said: “Well, I don’t want to cause any problems, but I will tell you I’d love to see it unified. “I have friends on both sides, great people. They’re Irish people. How can they be bad, right? “I’d love to see it unified. I think it would be a great feather in everybody’s cap if that happened. It’s going to happen eventually. “You know what? The way I look at it, it’s going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now. “We’re talking about it and you got the right man over here to get it moving. “But, yeah, I think it would be a fantastic thing. “Now the UK will have something to say about it, obviously. But I think it would be a great thing. I mean, how can it be bad?” Trump is now taking questions from reporters with Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin. When asked when the Iran war will end, he replied: "I think very soon... probably right after the midterms." He insisted again that "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon", and added: "Oil [prices] will come tumbling down when that happens." Donald Trump has now met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House, ahead of attending the Irish Open later today. While speaking to reporters earlier, Trump once again turned his attention to North Sea oil drilling in the UK Speaking outside the Áras an Uachtaráin, he said: “Well, I think what happens if they open up, if you opened up in the UK, the North Sea, your prices will tumble. “As soon as they open up the great North Sea, and they haven’t, one of the most valuable sites in the world, when that’s open your prices are going to go way down.” Natalie Harp has been spotted among the US delegation in Ireland. It comes following calls for an investigation after Trump gave three officials including Harp cash gifts of $45,000 each. The payments could be seen as a breach of regulation 18 USC 209, a federal conflict of interest statute prohibiting executive branch employees from receiving payment beyond their salary for performing their official duties. Questions have been swirling about the Harp's personal relationship with the US President. The 35-year-old is nicknamed the "human printer" because she frequently prints out and hands Trump flattering news stories and cherry-picked poll numbers - acting as a "filter" for information reaching him. She is also reported to have frequently left "intimate" letters for him to find in his personal spaces, saying things like "You are all that matters to me," and "I don't ever want to let you down...I want to bring you joy." Donald Trump was greeted by Irish President Catherine Connolly during an arrival ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin. It might be quite an interesting meeting too - although her role is largely ceremonial, she has long been a critic of US foreign policy and military action in the Middle East. Ms Connolly last year accused Mr Trump of being “volatile” and “acting like a bully”. Former Irish premiers Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny are among hundreds of guests arriving at the residence of the US ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, ahead of the visit of US President Donald Trump. Prominent business leaders, including Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary and entertainer Michael Flatley are also among those expected to attend this morning, as President Trump will make a speech in a marquee set up in the grounds of the historic property at Deerfield in Phoenix Park, which is decked out with American flags. Sound checks have included the playing of some of Mr Trump’s favourite songs, including the Village People’s YMCA, and his traditional walk-out song God Bless The USA by Lee Greenwood. Donald Trump has now left Dublin Airport and is heading to Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park (the official residence of the Irish President). There will be an arrival ceremony before Trump holds a call with President Catherine Connolly. A red carpet was prepared for the US President as he disembarked Air Force One in Dublin. Donald Trump has now landed in Ireland. The old Air Force One landed at Dublin Airport at around 8.20am this morning, closely followed by the new Air Force One gifted to Trump from Qatar. Trump travelled on the larger, second plane, and was greeted by Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris at Dublin Airport. Garda officers and members of the Irish Defence Force have been pictured sweeping across the course at the Amgen Irish Open, at Trump International Golf Links Ireland in Doonbeg, ahead of the president's visit.