People take part in a protest against the visit of US President Donald Trump in the Irish capital Dublin. PHOTO: AFP
IRELAND/
DOONBEG:
Donald Trump said Saturday he would “love to see” a united Ireland, wading into a politically sensitive subject as he embarked on a two-day Irish visit that blurs the lines between his presidency and personal business interests.
After meeting Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Dublin, Trump said reunification of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland — split for over a century — would be “a fantastic thing”.
“It’s going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now,” he told reporters, adding “the UK will have something to say about it, obviously”.
The island of Ireland has been split between the Irish republic in the south and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, since 1921.
Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland that killed about 3,000 people, a referendum can be held if the UK government determines a majority there is likely to favour joining the Republic of Ireland.
Republic of Ireland voters would also have to endorse reunification in a poll for it to happen.
The United States has previously adopted a neutral position on the issue.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham insisted last month that a unity referendum was “off the table”, drawing a sharp response from the pro-unity party Sinn Fein.
Divergences
Trump had touched down at Dublin airport shortly before 8:25 am (0725 GMT) under a security operation dubbed one of the largest ever mounted in Ireland and reportedly costing 20 million euros ($23 million).
At least 4,000 police and other personnel, including snipers, have been mobilised.
In Dublin, at least 2,000 protesters waving Palestinian flags and holding placards rallied Saturday lunchtime against the president’s visit, chanting “Donald Trump’s not welcome here”, AFP reporters saw.
One sign read “no imperialists in Ireland” while some held explicit inflatable balloons showing Trump in sex acts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Trump is a warmonger,” student Cillian Whelan, 19, told AFP. “He has no right to be in my country. He should be on trial.”
One small group of demonstrators — dressed in black and wearing masks and dark glasses — set a US flag on fire, according to The Irish Times.
Earlier in Dublin, Trump was received by left-wing President Catherine Connolly, an outspoken critic of the US leader
