Northern Ireland Leaders React to Trump’s US Election Victory

The first and deputy first ministers of Northern Ireland have released joint statements extending their congratulations to Donald Trump following his success in the US election. Mr. Trump is set to re-enter the White House as the 47th president of America, having secured a significant win against Kamala Harris. First Minister Michelle O’Neill stated, “The American people have voted and congratulations are due to President-elect Donald Trump.” Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly expressed her anticipation of strengthening Northern Ireland’s “long and cherished bonds with the United States”. Ms. O’Neill’s statement indicated her intention to “continue to work with the incoming administration, to protect the Good Friday Agreement and press for a ceasefire in Gaza, peace the Middle East and Ukraine”. Earlier on Wednesday, Ms. O’Neill conveyed her good wishes to Mr. Trump for his term, while also noting that her “priority when it comes to engaging with the American administration is the role they play in terms of our peace process”. Ms. Little-Pengelly remarked that the connections with the US were “built on history, heritage and trade” and she was eager to collaborate with Mr. Trump’s administration “as we drive forward our agenda for economic growth in Northern Ireland”. Previously, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) extended congratulations to Mr. Trump for “what has rightly been described as the greatest political comeback of all time”. Gavin Robinson, in a statement, commented that the “divisive” election had reached a “decisive” outcome, with the American populace providing “a strong mandate”. Mr. Robinson further stated that during Mr. Trump’s previous term, “many regarded his presidency as one of balance and fairness regarding our own local political divisions”. He concluded, “I trust he adopts the same approach to the 47th presidency as he did the 45th, and the ties between the US and Northern Ireland remain strong. I wish him well.” Claire Hanna, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), expressed that it is “disheartening” to observe the widespread endorsement of Mr. Trump’s “divisive brand of politics”. She remarked, “Many people will be feeling low today, and I hope they will take care.” She added, “The best response to this is to organise, and to think about the ways that we can help protect community cohesion, security, and the planet.” Jim Allister, leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), informed the BBC’s Nolan Show that “Donald Trump is not everyone’s cup of tea but I think he’s better than the alternative of Harris.” He also stated, “I think he will chime with some of the issues that affect Northern Ireland.” Gerry Carroll, an assembly member for People Before Profit, commented that Mr. Trump’s election is “not something to be welcomed or normalised”. He asserted, “Trump’s record should be proof enough that there is nothing to gain from a relationship with him.” Concurrently, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Simon Harris has committed to efforts aimed at “deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds” between Ireland and the US. He reiterated sentiments expressed by the DUP leader, stating, “the people of the United States have spoken”. He further added, “Ireland and the United States have deep and historical bonds of people, and we will work to make these even stronger in the years ahead.” He also noted, “The world faces many challenges and needs leadership to meet them.” He concluded, “With the US and Ireland’s shared commitment to democracy and international law, we can, and will, tackle these challenges.” Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin also extended his congratulations to Mr. Trump, indicating his anticipation of collaborating with the new administration “in a constructive manner”. He stated that consistent high-level political interaction with the incoming US administration and across the political spectrum on Capitol Hill would be a significant priority for the Irish government. Amidst this highly unpredictable election cycle, one observation remains certain: as Donald Trump reflects on his accomplishment, his focus is not preoccupied with the implications for Northern Ireland. Based on the subdued response observed locally, it appears Northern Ireland and he share this perspective. In contrast to the previous election, where prominent DUP figures such as Sammy Wilson and Ian Paisley openly supported Mr. Trump, the DUP maintained a comparatively quiet stance in the period preceding this election. During his last term, there was no presidential visit, though Stormont was largely suspended throughout his presidency. Nevertheless, towards the end of March 2020, he eventually appointed a Special Envoy, Mick Mulvaney, who subsequently resigned the following January in response to the Capitol riots. The primary question now is whether the departing envoy, Joe Kennedy, will be replaced. Consequently, like the rest of the world, we await future developments. However, it is clear that our position in any queue for attention is not high. 7 November 2024: This report was revised to rectify a factual inaccuracy. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.