Taoiseach Micheál Martin reflects on Trump visit

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Previously titled “Is unity a greater prospect now following Donal Trump's visit?” — renamed by the publisher on Sep 14, 2026

Today with David McCullagh 25 min 1 speaker 8 chapters transcribed 1 hour ago

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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

What did Taoiseach Micheál Martin say about the overall success of President Trump’s visit to Ireland?

David McCullagh 0:00

First, though, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, good morning.

Micheál Martin 0:02

Good morning.

David McCullagh 0:02

Thank you very much indeed for coming into the studio. When it was wheels up on Air Force One, was there a big sigh of relief all around?

Micheál Martin 0:08

Well, I wouldn't say relief totally. I mean, we were very pleased with the way the weekend went. I want to pay tribute to Angarda Seacona for the extraordinary work that they did in terms of the security dimension to the trip. To everybody in Doonbeg, I mean, it was an incredible weekend in Doonbeg, fantastic golf course, incredible beauty in the area. And the local community responded very well. And I think we're very appreciative of the attention in that part of Clare from obviously future tourism and economic prospects. And then the meeting with President Connolly, with myself and so on, all of that. went well also. And so there was good engagement over the entirety of the weekend with President Trump.

Micheál Martin 0:53

And I think in terms of our economic relationship with the United States, a sense emerging from the weekend that there's a greater understanding and recognition of the two-way nature of that investment, both in terms of Irish investment in the US and obviously US investment in Ireland and you know when you look at Amgen sponsoring the Irish Open they're a major US multinational pharmaceutical company and again illustrating to President Trump that there is value in US companies investing in Ireland in terms of access to the European Union market and it's a win-win situation all around to

David McCullagh 1:29

Yeah, his remarks about Irish unity obviously attracted a lot of attention. An American president publicly backing Irish unity, that's something that Irish governments have sought for generations. Yet you seem intent on downplaying and saying there'd been an overreaction to those remarks.

Micheál Martin 1:43

Well, I felt there was an overreaction from the unionists, some unionist politicians, in terms of some of the language that we choose. Well,

David McCullagh 1:50

you can see why they're upset.

Micheál Martin 1:51

I can, but using language like that, United Ireland would bring about the destruction of Northern Ireland. I think Gavin, I wouldn't agree with Gavin Robinson on that. I understand why. And it should be no surprise to them because last year... Anytime I've spoken to President Trump about Northern Ireland, he does ask the question, do you think there will be a merger anytime soon? And

David McCullagh 2:12

what do you say?

Micheál Martin 2:14

Well, I said to him at some stage, I support Irish unity, but I do indicate to him then that there's the whole peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement. that that idea of working with the British government in lockstep, which was the underpinning of that agreement, is necessary in terms of the next stages and so on.

David McCullagh 2:34

Well, he doesn't seem to have been listening to you.

Micheál Martin 2:36

No, he is listening. I mean, we had a good discussion yesterday about it. He asked more questions. It was interesting. He recalled the murder of Lord Mountbatten yesterday during our conversation at lunch. His view and recollection is of a very vicious and terrible conflict in Northern Ireland. And he was saying, you know, he's talking about the release of people who committed terrible crimes and so on. And I made the point, you know, that I will be meeting Prime Minister Burnham. Legacy is going to be a key. Yeah, these are all key issues, you know, in terms of the future of the island. And I think on the more fundamental point, if we could get legacy over the line this autumn, that would be the most significant breakthrough for the victims and families of victims who were murdered during the Troubles.

Micheál Martin 3:22

And it would mean there would be an obligation on everybody to to cooperate with the new commission and to attempt to give closure to all families who suffered horrendously from that period. He's very taken by what happened. I can see where he's coming from and we would have the same perspective. From a North American point of view, he sees an island here. As we discussed the Gulf, there's no border in Gulf in Ireland. There's no border in Rugby. We were having this conversation.