US President Donald Trump said during a visit to the Republic of Ireland that he would love to see a United Ireland, describing it as something that is going to happen eventually and might as well happen now. He made the remarks to a journalist while attending the Irish Open at his golf resort in Doonbeg, County Clare.

Following Trump's comments, Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed support for Irish unity. SDLP leader Claire Hanna told her party conference that Trump was not as 'orange' as he appeared, referencing the colour associated with unionism in Northern Ireland.

Days later, the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, and the Sinn Féin President met in Cardiff. They agreed that Westminster's time was coming to an end, signalling a shared view among leaders of the largest parties in three parts of the UK that the union may be breaking up.

Unionist politicians reacted angrily to the meeting. Some unionists have said they will not take part in debates about a new Ireland. However, unionist commentator Jon Burrows has challenged Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill to a debate on a United Ireland versus remaining in the United Kingdom, suggesting some engagement with the discussion.

There has been significant demographic and social change in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in recent years. The 2022 Irish census showed that 20 per cent of the Republic's population was born outside the island. Northern Ireland no longer has a unionist majority, and no single group holds a majority.

Despite political divisions, people in Northern Ireland generally get on with each other well in everyday life, according to observations in the Impartial Reporter. However, the political system at Stormont is seen as failing to deliver good public services.

The constitutional question remains open, with no immediate change expected but recognition that a serious conversation about constitutional change is underway.