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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Rebecca Black

President Trump’s Irish merger comment just banter, Little-Pengelly says

Emma LittlePengelly Northern Ireland Donald Trump United States Christian Turner Niall Carson the White House Friends of Ireland
Handout photo dated 17/03/26 issued by the Democratic Unionist Party of US President Donald Trump with Northern Ireland Deputy first Minister Emma Little Pengelly at the White House in Washington DC, as part of a visit to the US for St Patrick’s Day. Issue date: Wednesday March 18, 2026. - (PA Media)

US president Donald Trump’s suggestion of an Irish merger was “just banter”, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has said.

It came at the start of the president’s address to the annual Speakers’ Friends of Ireland Luncheon at Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

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