Trump triggers row by backing a united Ireland

Donald Trump has triggered a diplomatic row after backing a united Ireland during a visit to Dublin.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the US president claimed Irish reunification was inevitable, adding it "may as well happen now".

His comments brought a stern rebuke from the Conservatives in the UK while Downing Street pointed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham's rejection of an immediate border poll earlier in the week.

"I'd love to see it unified. I think it would be a great feather in everybody's cap if that happened. It's going to happen eventually," Trump said, answering a question from the Press Association.

Referencing Taoiseach Micheál Martin sitting next to him, Trump added: "We're talking about it and you got the right man over here to get it moving."

"But, yeah, I think it would be a fantastic thing... Now the UK will have something to say about it, obviously. But I think it would be a great thing. I mean, how can it be bad?"

The comments are likely to further strain relations between the US and the UK, with Trump also casting doubt on Britain's ability to defend the Falkland Islands during the visit.

On Wednesday, Burnham told MPs a border poll would only be considered when there was "a clear consensus in the country".

Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart said Trump was "very wrong", adding Northern Ireland was "an integral part" of the UK.

The row could also complicate Washington's relations with Northern Irish parties.

While Sinn Féin has boycotted the annual St Patrick's Day visit to Washington over Trump's Middle East policy, leading unionist parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Ulster Unionist Party, have continued to engage with the president.

In response to his comments, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Northern Ireland's future would be decided by its people, not "commentary in London, Dublin or Washington".

"We are not interested in the destruction of our country by joining with the Irish Republic," he said.

The UK-Ireland border remains a sensitive issue, with Burnham triggering a political row earlier in the year after saying a referendum on reunification was "off the table".