The chief of the Democratic Unionist Social gathering, Northern Eire‘s largest get together advocating continued union with Britain, rejected Trump’s prediction, saying unification with Eire would result in “the destruction of our nation.”
“Northern Eire‘s constitutional future will likely be determined by the folks of Northern Eire, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington,” Gavin Robinson, who has publicly supported Trump up to now, wrote on X.
In Belfast, supporters of Irish unity gave a guarded response.
“I believe it is simply headline grabbing … I do not suppose he offers a toss whether or not there’s a United Eire or not,” mentioned Eamon Hanna, a supporter of the nationalist SDLP get together, which has been a robust critic of Trump’s insurance policies.
Earlier US presidents, together with these with sturdy Irish heritage like Joe Biden, have been cautious to stay impartial on Irish unification. The US authorities performed a key function in brokering the 1998 peace deal.
‘YOU FLEECED US’
Trump additionally met Irish President Catherine Connolly, who had joined a protest in opposition to his 2019 go to to Eire, earlier than she was elected to the principally ceremonial function final yr.
Connolly, previously a long-time left-wing lawmaker, mentioned in an announcement that she conveyed to Trump “the sturdy view of the Irish people who the normalisation of struggle and genocide can by no means be accepted.”
