The DUP has predicted unionists will benefit from a more laissez-faire policy approach to Northern Ireland by President Bush. On his return from the US, the deputy DUP leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said the new republican administration would scale down political intervention in the North.
"The important thing for unionists is that this President won't be as interventionist as the previous one," he said.
Mr Robinson and party leader the Rev Ian Paisley joined the rest of the North's main political parties in the White House last week to mark St Patrick's Day. Mr Robinson said the visit was a success as they were able to put their point of view to Mr Bush. However, they did not attend celebrations.
The Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, who is continuing his visit to the US, has called on the British government and unionists to "knuckle down" in the peace process and build upon the IRA's re-engagement with the decommissioning body.
In Atlanta, Georgia, he again called for the lifting of Mr David Trimble's ban on Sinn Fein ministers at North-South Ministerial Council meetings. He was disappointed the British government had not honoured commitments to dismantle a number of military installations in republican areas.
"Sinn Fein cannot and will not deliver the arms issue on Ulster Unionist-British government terms. Everybody must play their part on all the issues. A space has opened up that I wish will be filled with hope instead of the usual unionist shopping list of demands and some of the ambiguous waffle of some in the British government." He found its response to Mr Trimble's "unlawful" behaviour unacceptable. "The refusal of the British to make it clear that it does not support and is opposed to Mr Trimble's conduct is unacceptable," he added.
On policing, Mr Adams said the British government would have to return to the Patten report recommendations and amend legislation accordingly. "At Hillsborough they said to us they were prepared to do that."
Meanwhile, the UUP deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, has been selected to head a delegation from the Council of Europe on a fact-finding mission to the Middle East. "Community divisions in Ulster are bad but in the Middle East they are much worse and, if allowed to deteriorate further could have an impact on us all," said Mr Taylor.