Donald Trump says Irish unity ‘one of the naturals of all time’

US President Donald Trump has doubled down on comments in support of Irish unity, stating it was “one of the naturals of all time”.

Speaking on the second day of his trip to Ireland, Mr Trump also dismissed the diplomatic backlash to his remarks, insisting he “loved” his comments.

However, he refused to answer questions about a timeline for a border poll and also avoided a question about Scottish independence.

Irish premier Micheál Martin said there had been an “overreaction” to the president’s remarks.

On Saturday, Mr Trump sparked a row when he responded to a question from the Press Association, by stating he “would love to see” Ireland unified, adding: “It’s going to happen eventually.”

Mr Trump spoke to reporters on Sunday at his golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare, which is hosting the Amgen Irish Open.

When asked about the diplomatic row following his comments the previous day, he said: “I loved them.”

Further asked about the backlash to his intervention, he said: “I love my comments.”

US President Donald Trump at his golf course on Sunday (Liam McBurney/PA)

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He did not comment further when asked about a timeline for Irish unity.

Mr Trump also said it was “great” to be in Doonbeg and added: “I love Irish people.”

The president was cheered and applauded as he walked around his golf resort on Sunday.

Asked again about his comments on Irish unity, he said: “I have always loved the people of Ireland and it just seems to me that you have Northern Ireland and you have Ireland and it would seem to me that one of the naturals of all time is put them together.

“That’s only my opinion. Many people agree. I made what I considered to be a fairly routine comment, I have had so much support on that.”

Mr Trump said he would “say nothing” about Scottish independence, stating he will “save that for another day”.

Asked about Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s remarks that there would be no poll on Irish unity until a majority in Northern Ireland were likely to vote in favour, Mr Trump added: “Everybody says that and then things happen.”

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin some other senior Irish Government figures are also attending the final day of play at the Irish Open.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking to the media (Liam McBurney/PA)

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Mr Martin said he had had lunch with the president on Sunday, but it had not been a “formal political meeting” and they had discussed investment in the area.

The Taoiseach said Mr Trump’s remarks in favour of Irish unity were “not a particular surprise” to him.

He added: “He would make the point that this is his view, he believes unity is the logical way for the island to be configured and organised.”

Asked about the political reaction to Mr Trump’s comments, Mr Martin added: “I think some of the reaction is an overreaction.

“It shouldn’t be a surprise he takes a different sort of perspective on things, we know that.

“Certainly he is viewing it, from my conversations with him over lunch, he is looking at it from a perspective of looking in on the island of Ireland and logically saying it seems inevitable it should be unified.”

He said: “That is his consistent view, he believes that and people are entitled to have a view and an opinion.”

Mr Trump will hand over the winner’s trophy at the Trump International golf resort in Doonbeg before flying back to the US at the end of a two-day itinerary.

US President Donald Trump attends the Irish Open (Liam McBurney/PA)

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A major security operation is continuing for the visit, with Ireland’s police service An Garda Síochána liaising with the Defence Forces and US Secret Service in the area around the resort.

Mr Trump’s presence sparked protests in Dublin and Clare – but Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said there would be “no tolerance” for public disorder or attempts to impact “critical movements” of the US president.

A small number of protesters gathered close to Shannon Airport on Sunday.