Trump believes Irish unity is ‘logical’, Irish premier Micheál Martin says
Irish premier Micheál Martin said Donald Trump believes Irish unity is the “logical way for the island to be configured and organised”.
Irish premier Micheál Martin said Donald Trump believes Irish unity is the “logical way for the island to be configured and organised”.
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This comes as as the US President kicked off his visit to Ireland by meeting Irish President Catherine Connolly, a vocal critic of his administration, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Mr Martin confirmed he had lunch with the US President at his Doonbeg resort in Co Clare on Sunday, but added that it was not a “formal political meeting” and that the two leaders discussed investment in the area.
The Taoiseach said that Mr Trump’s comments in support of Irish unity were “not a particular surprise” to him.
He explained: “He would make the point that this is his view; he believes unity is the logical way for the island to be configured and organised.”
Read more: Trump says he 'would love to see' a unified Ireland as he kicks off two-day visit
Read more: ‘War and genocide can never be accepted’, Irish President tells Trump
When asked whether he had discussed the ongoing situation in Gaza whilst meeting with the President, Mr Martin said he had focused on “accelerating and getting more aid” into the area.
Donald Trump doubled down on his comments in support of Irish unity while speaking to reporters in Co Clare earlier on Sunday.
He said: “I have always loved the people of Ireland and it just seems to me that you have Northern Ireland and you have Ireland and it would seem to me that one of the naturals of all time is put them together.”
“Many people agree. I made what I considered to be a fairly routine comment; I have had so much support on that.”
Mr Trump said he would “say nothing” about Scottish independence, stating he will “save that for another day”.
This comes as Irish President Catherine Connolly said she communicated to US President Donald Trump during their meeting that “normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted”. Ms Connolly was a left-wing independent TD before she was elected president.
She has previously said that Mr Trump has acted both “volatile” and “like a bully”, while also criticising his actions in the Middle East.
Donald Trump said that the war he began against Iran will end “very soon” to reporters on Saturday. He also added that the price of oil will “come tumbling down”.
According to Ms Connolly, it was the US and Ireland’s “deep connection” that she said “allows us to speak openly to one another”, in comments after their meeting at Áras an Uachtaráin.
In a statement following the meeting on Saturday morning, Ms Connolly said: “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.”
A St Brigid’s Cross, recognised as a symbol of peace, was given to the US President during his short discussion with Ms Connolly.
He was also given a collection of poems which included the famous Michael Longley sonnet Ceasefire.
As Ms Connolly, the Irish President, repeatedly criticised Trump before she took up office, the gifts she presented him with may be considered as pointed.
The US president’s time at Áras an Uachtaráin was always likely to be one of the most scrutinised parts of his two-day time in Ireland.
Mr Trump mistakenly referred to Ms Connolly as “he” when questioned about his view on the comments she made against him regarding the US-Israeli war against Iran in the Oval Office on St Patrick’s Day last year.
While Trump departed from the Áras to continue with his appointments, which were occurring elsewhere in Phoenix Park, he stopped momentarily to talk to reporters.
Although he discussed oil prices, he did not respond to questions about his conversations with Ms Connolly.
However, he did leave a simple message in the visitors book. It read: “A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE THANK YOU”.