US politicians have responded to President Donald Trump's remarks on Irish unity during his visit to Ireland last week.
During a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, President Trump said Irish unity would be a "fantastic thing" and that he would "love to see it". He also said that "it's going to happen eventually".
The President doubled down on his remarks at his golf course in Doonbeg, County Clare. He travelled there to watch the Irish Open following his meeting with the Taoiseach and with Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly.
He said: "I've always loved the people of Ireland. It just seems to me you have Northern Ireland and Ireland.
"It seems that one of the naturals of all time is to put them together.
"That's only my opinion, and by the way many people agree."
Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, Representative for New York's 17th Congressional District, told the Andersonstown News that the United States had a role to respect the choice of the people of Ireland.
"I support the people's choice. Under the Good Friday Agreement, the future of Northern Ireland is decided by the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland, by consent at the ballot box."
He continued: "The role of the United States is to respect that choice, as America has always backed democracy. But our work now is to protect the Agreement, restore an American Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, and invest in shared prosperity in Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Newry, Dublin, and across the island. I look forward to continuing this work on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and in Congress."
Congressman Timothy Kennedy, Democratic Representative for New York's 26th Congressional District, said that the issue is "personal for all of us".
"Millions of Americans, including myself, trace our roots back to Ireland, and we carry its history with us. The future of Ireland is up to the people of Ireland. The right to self-determination is not up for negotiation."
