US President Donald Trump has been speaking to Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin and other leaders on a two-day visit to the Republic of Ireland
Asked by reporters earlier about the prospect of a unified Ireland, Trump says he doesn't want to "cause any problems" but he thinks it would be a "great thing", adding "I'd love to see it unified"
"It's one of those questions where no matter what you say, there's no good answer", the president says, adding that "it would be a cool thing"
No 10 has responded to Trump's comments, while the Democratic Unionist Party says Northern Ireland's constitutional future "won't be decided by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington"
Trump will now travel to his golf resort in Doonbeg, County Clare, where the Irish Open golf tournament is being held - here's a look at his schedule
Traffic is at a standstill in parts of Dublin city centre as protests against the president's visit are taking place
Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor
Image source, PA MediaAir Force One has completed a fly by over the Trump course in Doonbeg, where the Irish Open is taking place.
Spectators scrambled for photos as the aircraft flew low over the course as it headed for Shannon Airport.
Trump will be heading for Doonbeg after he lands.
Image source, PA MediaUUP leader Jon Burrows and TUV leader Jim Allister
While we have already heard from the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland on Trump's united Ireland comments, the second and third largest unionist parties have also had their say.
Leader of the Ulster Unionists (UUP), Jon Burrows, said on X that Trump is "entitled to express his view on the constitutional future of another country".
"But the only people whose decision counts are the people of Northern Ireland."
The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister said: “Northern Ireland is not a pawn in Trump’s fall out with the UK.
"Our constitutional future does not depend on him or any other foreign dignitary.”
Jessica Lawrence
BBC News NI
Among the speakers at today’s protest is Sinn Féin’s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.
Speaking before the rally, he says it is a “significant crowd” which “demonstrates the fact that the Irish people clearly reject the policies and the agenda of this US administration" in Gaza and the Middle East.
Despite the US president being nowhere near the scenes of today’s protests, Ó Laoghaire says it is an opportunity to show the world’s media Ireland’s disdain for US foreign policy.
“Whatever opportunities we have, we take them, and also the Irish government - they have an obligation to articulate Irish foreign policy to President Trump."
There is, however, something Sinn Féin and Trump appear to agree on - the prospect of a united Ireland.
One of the key policies of Sinn Féin, the main party of opposition in the Republic of Ireland and the largest party in Northern Ireland's devolved government, is the creation of a united Ireland.
Ó Laoghaire says Trump’s comments about that happening “eventually” are part of a growing view that there is “momentum” towards unity.
“During the course of my work, I meet ambassadors all over the world. It’s one of the first questions they ask me: ‘What are the prospects of Irish unity?’
“The only person who doesn’t seem to take that on board is Micheál Martin, who has set his face against it and, in my view, is being reckless and careless in failing to plan and prepare for constitutional change in a sensible way.”
Jessica Lawrence
BBC News NI
Traffic is at a standstill now on Parnell Square East in Dublin city centre as the protest against President Trump's visit continues.
Image source, Getty ImagesConservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said that Donald Trump is "shooting from the hip as usual, just like he did with Greenland and Canada becoming the 51st state" following his comments on a united Ireland.
"This sort of loose talk about the future of democratic countries is deeply unhelpful and creates unnecessary tension," she writes in a post on X. "Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom."
Badenoch says at a time when separatists are in power in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, "we need a government that will defend the union clearly and confidently".
Jacob Phillips
Live reporter
Image source, PA MediaUS President Donald Trump views the guard of honour outside Aras an Uachtarain
Donald Trump has left Dublin for County Clare after a morning of meetings and events in the Irish capital.
Here's what you've missed if you've just joined us:
Image source, Getty ImagesUS President Donald Trump and Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin listen to a question from the media at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park
Jessica Lawrence
BBC News NI reporting from Dublin
Music is leading the protests here at the Garden of Remembrance just outside Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
Among the protestors here today are Adrian and Tawnie.
Originally from California, Tawnie thinks Trump’s presidency has been “a disgrace and an embarrassment”.
Adrian said Trump "serves the mantra of money makes the world go around".
“He serves a billionaire class, I just don’t like him.”
There’s a common theme amongst signs and protest chants today - the US involvement in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Ireland is one of the most pro-Palestinian countries in the EU, and many here will be hoping to send a message.
Angela Jennings and Margot Feely said the US president's attitude to the Middle East was "reprehensible".
"He's causing chaos around the world, there's a war going on in Iran that isn't necessary and it's impacting the whole world," Margot says.
Alison says her message to Trump is clear.
"Go home, we don't want you here."
Gabija Gataveckaite
BBC News NI Dublin correspondent
Image source, EPAIrish President Catherine Connolly has also said that she told US President Donald Trump “the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted”.
The two heads of state met at the President’s Drawing Room at Aras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.
Connolly faced pressure from left-wing parties who backed her at last year’s presidential elections to raise Gaza with Trump.
She has been a frequent critic of Trump and the US in the past, particularly on the conflict in the Middle East.
“I conveyed the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted,” she said in a statement issued after the meeting.
“As a country which has suffered famine, colonisation and the violence of the Troubles, but also the importance of the long and challenging road to peace, I emphasised the unique insight which Irish people can bring to the resolution of conflict.”
Gabija Gataveckaite
BBC News NI Dublin correspondent
Image source, PASome interesting detail has emerged from President Trump's first official event this morning, which was with Irish President Catherine Connolly.
During a courtesy call, at the presidential residence, she gave her US counterpart a number of gifts.
They were the St Brigid's Cross; a newly published version of the Navigato Sancti Brendani (Voyage of St Brendan); and a collection of poems by Belfast-born poet Michael Longley.
The cross is a religious symbol marking the beginning of spring, made from rushes. St Brigid is one of Ireland's patron saints.
The Voyage of St Brendan is a medieval text telling of a monk's journey to find the Promised Land of the Saints.
Interestingly, it was flagged to the media that one of the poems in the Longley collection is called Ceasefire.
A lot of Longley's work centred on the Troubles, the decades-long conflict in Northern Ireland.
Connolly was under pressure by left-wing parties who backed her in the presidential campaign last year to express her views to Trump about Gaza, an issue she is very outspoken about.
However, the office of the Irish president is meant to be apolitical so it is a tightrope for any Irish president to walk.
Even though Donald Trump is leaving Dublin, a protest is due to start at 13:00 local time.
Earlier today, Trump told reporters: "I haven't seen any protests," before joking: "It's a friendly protest."
We'll bring you the latest from Dublin city centre as people gather to protest over his two-day visit.
Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor
Former Democratic Unionist Party MP Ian Paisley, a close friend of the Trump family, has downplayed the president’s support for a united Ireland.
President Trump said a united Ireland would be a “great thing” and would be a “feather in everyone’s cap”.
In response, Ian Paisley says: “Everyone is allowed a personal opinion even when it’s wrong."
He adds: “I suspect the president would really like to see Ireland united under the Crown.
“The political, cultural and economic reality is that Northern Ireland and its people are British and wish to remain so.
“Uprooting that stability isn’t in anyone’s interest and would be like telling Alaska it would be great to see it back in the USSR.
“The likelihood of Irish unification is as likely as Canada becoming the 51st state of the USA.”
Ian Paisley is a long-standing friend of President Trump since the pair first met at a business meeting in New York along with his father.
Donald Trump’s son Eric has also visited the Paisleys in Northern Ireland.
Image source, ReutersDonald Trump's morning in Dublin is over.
He met with Ireland's President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin.
He then made a speech at the US ambassador's residence.
That's his official duties done for his two-day visit.
So what next for Trump?
There's the small matter of the golf.
He will travel to Shannon Airport then onto the Irish Open in Doonbeg, County Clare, which is being held at the hotel resort he owns.
Trump will stay there tomorrow before heading back to the US.
While he'll move onto other issue across the world - his comments on a united Ireland will cause debate and discussion for days to come across the UK and Ireland.
Gabija Gataveckaite
BBC News NI Dublin correspondent
The comments on the possibility of a united Ireland will form a headache for the Irish government.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin had in the past emphasised the need for reconciliation and instead spoken about cross-community initiatives like the Irish government’s Shared Island fund, which uses money from the Irish taxpayer to build infrastructure projects across both sides of the border.
Martin is viewed as being not as keen on advancing talks for a border poll.
Fine Gael, who is the second biggest party in the Irish government, is due in November to present its blueprint on what a united Ireland may look like.
The typical response from the leaders of other countries on the question of a border poll is typically that it is a decision for the people of Ireland and the UK.
Trump's straightforward comments will cause rumbles in the Irish government that will not be welcomed.
Image source, ReutersPresident Trump has finished his speech at the US ambassador's residence by commenting on the "unbelievable people in Ireland".
"People love you, they love the people," he says, referencing their "friendliness" before joking also about a "viciousness" and a "toughness".
He says it's an "honour to be here".
He then concludes his address, which lasted around 40 minutes, and says he is off to the Irish Open golf tournament.
"Shane is leading and Rory's doing well," he says, referencing golfers Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy.
With that, the president's visit will now move on to Doonbeg, County Clare, where his hotel is hosting the tournament.
Downing Street has responded to Trump's comments that a united Ireland would "love to see" a united Ireland.
Number 10 referred to Prime Minister Andy Burnham's words on Wednesday in the House of Commons that he "will stick to it (the Good Friday Agreement) 100%".
On Wednesday, Burnham added that "the question of a border poll" was for the Northern Ireland secretary "when there is clear consensus in the country - when public opinion has changed to the point at which the call has to be considered".
The Good Friday Agreement - which ended the 30-year Northern Ireland conflict known as the Troubles - allows for the Northern Ireland secretary to call a border poll if it appears likely that a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for Irish unification.
A border poll would see people in Northern Ireland vote on whether they want to stay part of the United Kingdom or unite with the Republic of Ireland.
As reaction starts to come in, here's a reminder of what Donald Trump said about a potential united Ireland about 90 minutes ago while meeting with Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin in Dublin.
Image source, PA MediaWhile President Trump continues to speak at the US ambassador's residence, we can bring you some reaction to his comments earlier that a united Ireland "would be fantastic".
Gavin Robinson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party - the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland, which supports Northern Ireland remaining in the UK - has written on X that Trump "knows better than most that elections matter".
He added: "Northern Ireland’s constitutional future will be decided by the people of Northern Ireland, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington.
"Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom because that is the settled democratic will of its people.
"I am confident NI will continue to choose the UK and the security it offers. As unionists we are not interested in the destruction of our country by joining with the Irish Republic."
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesTrump repeats that the Irish "have been great friends of America" and says the relationship between the two countries is "fantastic".
He describes how the business leaders in the room are among the most successful people in the world".
The president adds that he is pleased Ireland is now the sixth largest form of foreign direct investment in the US.
"Congratulations on your genius," he says.
US ambassador to Ireland Ed Walsh introduces President Trump to speak as the song God Bless the USA plays.
Trump makes lengthy introductory comments before getting down to business.
He thanks Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin and his wife Mary for hosting, saying they "talked about a lot of different things".
He then references the press conference they gave afterwards, saying "every question [from the press] is a kill" and joking about his united Ireland comments.
Recalling the moment, he says: "Oh that's a nice question, I have a nice answer, I think, we'll read about it tomorrow."
He says the issue of unification is one of those questions there is "no good answer" to, "no matter what you say, no matter how well you say it".
He then repeats his stance, saying unification "would be cool".
Image source, Getty ImagesPresident Trump has now made the short journey from Farmleigh House, in Phoenix Park, to the Deerfield Residence, also in Phoenix Park.
This is the US ambassador's to Ireland's residence. Trump is now talking at an event speaking to US embassy staff and business leaders - you can watch live by hitting the play button at the top of this page.
