Trump Accelerates the Conversation on an Irish Border Poll
By Martin Burns
I often say that Ireland is a remarkable place where the likely rarely happens, while the impossible happens every day. President Donald Trump proved me right as during his visit to Ireland he embraced a united Ireland using language that no American has ever used. The New York Times reports that:
Shortly after setting foot in Dublin, President Trump on Saturday said it would be “fantastic” if Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland unified, breaking with decades of U.S. neutrality on an issue rooted in a long history of violence. “I don’t want to cause any problem. I will tell you, I’d love to see it unified,” Mr. Trump said in Dublin alongside Micheál Martin, Ireland’s taoiseach, or prime minister. “It’s going to happen eventually.”
While Trump’s remarks will have no real long-term impact on American foreign policy as the United States is firmly committed to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The impact in Ireland will be profound. First, Trump’s embrace of Irish unity while sitting next to Micheál Martin highlights Fianna Fáil’s (Martin’s political party) lack of enthusiasm for an Irish Border Poll. It must be profoundly embarrassing to Martin to have Trump be more enthusiastic about the prospect of Irish unity than he and his party.
Over the last few years, Unionists have made every effort to present their case to President Trump. In many ways, Trump and the Unionists are natural political allies. Sinn Féin (the largest Irish nationalist party) decision to boycott the St. Patrick’s Days festivities seemed to give the Democratic Unionists Party (the largest political party that supports Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom) a big opportunity. The DUP made the best of this opportunity. All of this vanished today in Dublin when Trump embraced Irish unity.
What will be the impact of Trump’s remarks? It will have no real influence on the course of American foreign policy. However, its impact in Ireland will be significant. No doubt feeling threatened on all sides, the DUP, and the Unionists in general will feel that they are under siege and retreat into isolation. On the other hand, Trump’s support of Irish unity highlights the fact that the conversation on a border poll is happening.
While Trump is not a popular figure in Ireland (to put it mildly), his support for Irish unity gives those who want to plan for an Irish Border Poll powerful support for their arguments. The Irish government will not be able to continue to avoid the discussion of an Irish Border Poll any longer.
You cannot argue anymore that the conversation on a Border Poll is happening. The only question right now is when the Irish government will join the conversation.
Trump Accelerates the Conversation on an Irish Border Poll
By Martin Burns
I often say that Ireland is a remarkable place where the likely rarely happens, while the impossible happens every day. President Donald Trump proved me right as during his visit to Ireland he embraced a united Ireland using language that no American has ever used. The New York Times reports that:
Shortly after setting foot in Dublin, President Trump on Saturday said it would be “fantastic” if Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland unified, breaking with decades of U.S. neutrality on an issue rooted in a long history of violence. “I don’t want to cause any problem. I will tell you, I’d love to see it unified,” Mr. Trump said in Dublin alongside Micheál Martin, Ireland’s taoiseach, or prime minister. “It’s going to happen eventually.”
While Trump’s remarks will have no real long-term impact on American foreign policy as the United States is firmly committed to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The impact in Ireland will be profound. First, Trump’s embrace of Irish unity while sitting next to Micheál Martin highlights Fianna Fáil’s (Martin’s political party) lack of enthusiasm for an Irish Border Poll. It must be profoundly embarrassing to Martin to have Trump be more enthusiastic about the prospect of Irish unity than he and his party.
Over the last few years, Unionists have made every effort to present their case to President Trump. In many ways, Trump and the Unionists are natural political allies. Sinn Féin (the largest Irish nationalist party) decision to boycott the St. Patrick’s Days festivities seemed to give the Democratic Unionists Party (the largest political party that supports Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom) a big opportunity. The DUP made the best of this opportunity. All of this vanished today in Dublin when Trump embraced Irish unity.
What will be the impact of Trump’s remarks? It will have no real influence on the course of American foreign policy. However, its impact in Ireland will be significant. No doubt feeling threatened on all sides, the DUP, and the Unionists in general will feel that they are under siege and retreat into isolation. On the other hand, Trump’s support of Irish unity highlights the fact that the conversation on a border poll is happening.
While Trump is not a popular figure in Ireland (to put it mildly), his support for Irish unity gives those who want to plan for an Irish Border Poll powerful support for their arguments. The Irish government will not be able to continue to avoid the discussion of an Irish Border Poll any longer.
You cannot argue anymore that the conversation on a Border Poll is happening. The only question right now is when the Irish government will join the conversation.