Trump stands by his united-Ireland remarks at Doonbeg as Dublin calls the backlash an overreaction
US President Donald Trump closed his two-day visit to Ireland at his Doonbeg golf resort in County Clare by saying he loved his remarks that he would like to see the island unified and that it would eventually happen, a break with Washington's habit of not taking sides on Northern Ireland. Taoiseach Micheál Martin called part of the reaction an overreaction and said Trump sees unity as the logical way to configure the island. In London, Tom Tugendhat and Kemi Badenoch called the comments unhelpful.
Geopolitics··Morning
On the way to the first tee at Doonbeg, Trump repeats himself
On the second day of his visit, Trump took a few questions from reporters as he walked to the first tee at his Doonbeg golf resort in County Clare. The day before, in Dublin, he had said he would love to see Ireland unified and that it was going to happen eventually; asked about the diplomatic row those words set off, he repeated that he loved them. Speaking at the Irish Open, which Doonbeg was hosting, he also said he thought unification should happen. He did not answer questions about a timeline for unity or about Scottish independence, and added that he loved the Irish people. The remarks depart from the usual practice of US administrations of not taking sides on the status of Northern Ireland. About 60 people protested near Shannon Airport, and Air Force One left the airport at 20.10 local time.[1], [2]
Martin calls some of the reaction an overreaction
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, attending the final day of the tournament at Doonbeg, said some of the reaction to Trump's words was an overreaction. In Martin's account, Trump believes unity is the logical way for the island to be configured; the remarks were no particular surprise because he had said similar things before, and it should surprise nobody that he takes a different perspective. Martin confirmed that he had discussed Northern Ireland with Trump over lunch at the resort but stressed that the meeting was not a political one. Asked whether the response from some unionists and British politicians was straining relations on the island and between Ireland and Britain, he gave the same answer. Martin also hinted that the remarks would not top the agenda when he meets British Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the end of next week.[1], [2]
Objections from London: Tugendhat, Badenoch, Farage and Burnham's spokesman
Criticism continued in Britain. Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat called the comments unhelpful. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Trump of shooting from the hip as he had over Greenland and Canada, and wrote that such loose talk about the future of democratic countries was deeply unhelpful and created unnecessary tension. Reform party leader Nigel Farage said Northern Ireland was a proud and integral part of the United Kingdom, that its people wanted neither a referendum nor unification, and that he disagreed with Trump. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there was no majority support for a referendum and none would be held until that changed; when that position was put to Trump at Doonbeg, he replied that everybody says that and then things happen, and described Burnham as a very nice guy who unfortunately tends to be on the liberal side. Britain's Housing Secretary Angela Rayner brushed the remarks off by saying Trump was simply being Trump.[2], [1]
