What's next after Donald Trump's united Ireland comments?

Nothing is out of bounds in the unpredictable world of Donald Trump.

Even the most sensitive of political issues is considered fair game by the US president.

So should we be surprised when he strays on to the political minefield of Irish unity and declares his full-throated support for reunification?

Well yes, because prior to his declaration on Saturday, President Trump avoided any tricky questions around Irish unity.

He has talked about a "merger" in the past but stopped short of expressing his personal opinion often referencing the complicated relationships.

But all that changed on Saturday when, sitting alongside Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin, he predicted a united Ireland will happen and he will "love to see it".

But far from being a classic off the cuff Trump intervention, it appears he discussed Irish unity with President Connolly and the taoiseach during their meetings.

It may have been a Trump tactic to put his hosts at ease and to avoid more trickier conversations around Gaza and the costly fall out of his war with Iran.

Or maybe his plan was to talk up Irish reunification to bolster support with Irish Americans voters ahead of the mid term elections.

Donald Trump walked through the members bar of his Doonbeg golf resort on Saturday night [PA Media]

Whatever his intentions the fall out has stirred a political whirlwind.

President Trump started to feel it yesterday when at a later engagement he said there was no "good" answer to the question of Irish unity.

But far from backtracking he suggested such a scenario would be "cool".

Unionists politicians and the UK government were quick to down play President Trump's "unhelpful" intervention.

They compared it to other rash 'Trumpisims' like taking over Greenland or making Canada the 51st US state.

But unlike those, the conversation around Irish reunification is real and happening and there is a political pathway in the Good Friday Agreement to make it happen.

Donald Trump made the united Ireland comments during a press conference with the Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Saturday [EPA]

President Trump's intervention was not a game changer in the move towards Irish reunification.

A border poll is no closer today than it was when Air Force one landed in Dublin yesterday.

But it might feel like a momentum changer for those driving the campaign for Irish unity.

Expect them to continually reference the endorsement of the most powerful man in the world.

Though nothing will change until the UK government decides otherwise as only it has the power to trigger a border poll.

As yet, there is no clear criteria as to what threshold needs to be met.

DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley and former DUP MP Ian Paisley were among the spectators at the Doonbeg resort [PA Media]

Donald Trump will be back in the spotlight on Sunday as he watches the closing round of the Irish Open.

Among those in his party is the former DUP MP and Trump family friend Ian Paisley.

He tried to downplay the president's new found love for Irish unity yesterday insisting "everyone was entitled to a personal opinion even if it's wrong".

He will be hoping the president backtracks today when confronted by the media.

The taoiseach will also be in the Trump tent just off the 18th green and will likely be chased by the press pack.

Both leaders will be determined to focus on the golf but questions on Irish unity are now firmly in play.