US President Donald Trump has intervened directly in the Northern Ireland constitutional debate by saying he would “love” to see a united Ireland and believes reunification will eventually happen.
Trump made the comments during a visit to Dublin on Saturday following talks with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
His remarks immediately drew attention because successive US presidents have traditionally avoided taking an overt position on whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom or join a united Ireland.
Trump says united Ireland would be 'fantastic'
Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Trump said he would “love” to see Irish reunification and described it as something he believed would eventually happen.
He also described the prospect as a “fantastic” development, while acknowledging that the United Kingdom would have a role in any constitutional change.
The comments amount to a striking intervention in one of the most politically sensitive questions in British and Irish politics.
Downing Street says position is unchanged
Downing Street responded by making clear that Prime Minister Andy Burnham's position on a border poll remains unchanged.
Burnham has previously said he does not believe there is currently majority support in Northern Ireland for another referendum on the constitutional question and that no poll should take place unless that changes.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office reiterated that position following Trump's remarks.
The Government has therefore not shifted towards supporting a referendum despite the US President's comments.
Good Friday Agreement puts decision in Northern Ireland's hands
Northern Ireland's constitutional status is governed by the principle of consent established under the Belfast, or Good Friday, Agreement.
The agreement recognises that Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom unless a majority of people there vote otherwise.
Under the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Secretary of State can order a border poll and is required to do so if it appears likely that a majority of those voting would support Northern Ireland leaving the United Kingdom and becoming part of a united Ireland.
That means neither the US President nor the Irish Government can independently trigger constitutional change in Northern Ireland.
Unionists reject Trump's intervention
Trump's comments prompted criticism from unionist politicians.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Northern Ireland's constitutional future was a matter for the people of Northern Ireland and rejected the suggestion that outside political figures should determine its status.
Nationalist reaction was more mixed, with some welcoming renewed international attention on Irish unity while others questioned the political significance of Trump's remarks.
Pressure on Burnham after border poll row
The intervention comes shortly after Burnham sought to draw a firm line under speculation about another border poll.
His Government has said the conditions required for a referendum are not currently present and that its position will remain tied to evidence of majority support for constitutional change.
Trump's remarks therefore create an unusual diplomatic contrast: the US President has openly spoken in favour of eventual Irish reunification while the British Government insists there is no current basis for a referendum.
For Burnham, the immediate challenge is to maintain the Government's stated commitment to the Good Friday Agreement while resisting pressure to reopen the constitutional question before the legal threshold for a poll is met.