Member's statement: President Trump: State Visit
Member's statement by Mr David Brooks on .
- MLA
- Mr David Brooks
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 16 September 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- President Trump: State Visit
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5110892
Read the official Assembly record
Text
In line with what my colleague Steve Aiken said on the issue yesterday, I give my party's welcome to President Trump as he comes to the United Kingdom for a state visit. The United States is not just another partner but our closest ally and greatest friend. It is right that we honour that relationship. In Northern Ireland, we have seen the benefits of that friendship. Recently, we heard the announcements from Citibank, which is based in my constituency, and from Bank of America about new jobs and fresh investment. Those are good jobs, and that is work for our young people. It is security for families, and it means confidence for our economy. It is what engagement with the United States delivers. I pay tribute to our deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly. She will be there representing Northern Ireland with dignity and purpose. She shows leadership, seriousness and professionalism, and she understands what really matters to our people. By contrast, it is deeply regrettable, though completely unsurprising, that the First Minister has, once again, chosen to stay away. Boycotts do nothing for jobs, investment or the reputation of this place. Sinn Féin means empty seats at Westminster and empty seats on the international stage. I am glad that someone in the Executive Office is working for all the people of Northern Ireland. We look forward to the remarkable opportunity that we have. As we know, America will soon mark 250 years of independence. The America250 celebrations will shine a light on our shared story, especially on the Ulster Scots who helped to shape the founding of America. That history is not just something in the past; it opens new doors for us in trade, culture, investment and partnership now. The visit is more than a ceremony; it is about strengthening ties that will put food on our families' tables and pride in our communities, and Northern Ireland must seize the moment with the rest of the UK.
328 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.29 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.86).
- Subject area: Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.21 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.08 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.03 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.29 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.23 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.12 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.29 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.86 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.14 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.80 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.08 |
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.05 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.03 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.02 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:12 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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