Former Northern Ireland MP Ian Paisley to attend Trump's inauguration

Ian Paisley Jr, a former MP and former head of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), is set to attend US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday, January 20.

Paisley, who was traveling to Washington DC on Thursday, is on the official guest list for the swearing-in ceremony, according to the BBC.

Paisley is a "long-time friend" of Trump, BBC noted.

"A lot of people have a lot of views about Donald Trump but collectively Northern Ireland can do well during his time in the White House," Paisley told BBC on Thursday before heading stateside.

"There will be lots of positive business opportunities and Northern Ireland is in a good place to take full advantage."

Paisley said that during Trump's last term in office, there was "no negative fall out for Northern Ireland," adding, "I would expect the same this time."

Paisley highlighted to BBC that Trump was one of only two US presidents to give Northern Ireland a special mention during the St Patrick's Day reception in the White House.

"When he spoke at that reception he looked around the room and made a point of saying it was great to celebrate Ireland and Northern Ireland," Paisley said.

"Apart from George Bush, he was the only president to make that pointed reference."

Paisley, alongside his father Ian, first met then-businessman Trump in 2003 to lobby for investment in Northern Ireland.

"We had heard Donald Trump was planning to invest in Scotland so we took a chance and called to his office to see if he would consider coming to Northern Ireland," Paisley told BBC on Thursday.

"It was a cold call but we received a very warm reception, and Donald Trump has a photograph of us all on his office wall."

Paisley said he has remained in touch with the Trumps ever since, and that Trump's son Eric has stayed with the Paisley during visits to Northern Ireland.

In 2020, Paisley posed with fellow DUP member Sammy Wilson while hoisting a "Trump 2020 - Keep America Great!" flag in support of Trump's re-election bid.

Paisley, who lost his long-held MP seat for North Antrim in the 2024 UK General Election, added that he intends to attend the annual St. Patrick's Day events in Washington, DC in March.

While Trump will take the oath of office at noon on Monday, his inauguration events are set to span four days, starting on Saturday.