DOMINANT ANGLE
Stockholm sees Trump's comments on a united Ireland as a diplomatic gesture that embarrasses London, while Dublin sees its guest contested in the street for his support for Israel.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Trump said in Dublin that Irish reunification would be "fantastic" and "will happen, sooner or later" (Dagens Nyheter).
- 02
Gavin Robinson (DUP) responded that the future of Northern Ireland must be decided "by the people who live there", not by London, Dublin, or Washington (Aftonbladet).
- 03
Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in Dublin against US support for Israel during Trump's visit (Aftonbladet).
ANALYSIS
Stockholm, Monday, September 14, 2026. During his two-day visit to Dublin and then to his golf course in Doonbeg, Donald Trump stated on Saturday that the reunification of Ireland would be "fantastic" and that it "will happen, sooner or later". Received by Prime Minister Micheál Martin, the American president assured that he did not want to "cause problems", while designating his host as the man to "get things moving", reports Dagens Nyheter. The Swedish press highlights the rapidity of the British reaction: a Downing Street spokesperson responded promptly to the presidential comments, a sign that London is taking seriously a departure from the usual stance of an American head of state on this issue.
In Northern Ireland, the reaction is strong. Gavin Robinson, leader of the unionist DUP party, quoted by Aftonbladet, is clear: the future of Northern Ireland must be decided "by the people who live there", "not by comments from London, Dublin, or Washington". A way to put the three involved capitals on an equal footing.
The Dublin trip was also marked by other tensions. Trump also met with Irish President Catherine Connolly, a meeting he described as "very pleasant" and "very respectful". Connolly, in turn, indicated that she had discussed the ongoing wars in the world, stating that "the normalization of war and genocide can never be accepted", according to the Irish Times and relayed by Aftonbladet. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Dublin against the visit, targeting the president's foreign policy and American support for Israel — a subject that earned him several questions during a press conference with Micheál Martin.
After Dublin, Trump went to Doonbeg for the Irish Open, held on his Trump International Golf Links course, where he was to follow the tournament before presenting the trophy on Sunday.
