United States

Washington, Monday, September 14, 2026. In the United States, the press first notes the break: by stating in Dublin that a unified Ireland would be "fantastic" and "will eventually happen," Donald Trump deviated from a presidential convention observed for decades. Axios recalls that previous administrations, including that of Bill Clinton, the architect of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, had always refused to comment on the status of Northern Ireland. Clinton had explicitly stated that Washington was "neither in favor of a united Ireland, nor opposed to the idea."

The president, on a two-day visit to attend the Irish Open at his Doonbeg golf course, made his remarks on Saturday alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, before reiterating them on Sunday to journalists: "It seems to me that one of the natural things to do is to unite them." He assured that "many people" shared his opinion, while refusing to address the Scottish case "for now."

The British reaction was immediate. Prime Minister Andy Burnham recalled that "there is no majority support for a new referendum, and as long as that doesn't change, there won't be one." Fox News and Bloomberg note that the comments sparked enthusiasm from Sinn Féin and anger from unionists, while Reform UK also reacted strongly.

Several American titles highlight the mixing of genres in this trip: ABC News describes a journey that mixes "his official duties with his personal interests," the golf tournament having motivated the bulk of the stay. The Hill also notes that Trump took the opportunity to announce the lifting of tariffs on Irish whiskey, praising a country "so incredible, so welcoming."

For the American press, the episode illustrates less a calculated geopolitical stance than a spontaneous outburst from a president accustomed to freely commenting on sensitive issues, at the risk of weakening the patiently constructed balance between unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland by the 1998 agreement.