Story by Alexis Romero
1/1/2025
‘Heads of state not invited to Trump inaugural’© Donald Trump Campaign / File
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos will not attend the inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump, who will return to the White House this month after staging what has been described as one of the most remarkable political comebacks in modern history.
Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez will represent the Philippines during the inauguration, which will take place on Jan. 20.
“Since the 1800s, no head of state has been invited to the US presidential inauguration. Only ambassadors represented in Washington, DC are invited,” Romualdez said in a text message to The STAR.
“I am looking forward to working once again with president Trump’s administration,” he said after he met with the president-elect at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez said the US secretary of state, on behalf of the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, has invited the chiefs of diplomatic missions and their spouses to represent their respective heads of state and their governments at the principal inaugural events.
“In this case, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez will represent (President Marcos) at the inauguration,” Chavez said in a statement issued yesterday.
He added that there is no confirmation on whether Marcos would visit the US to meet with Trump in the early months of 2025.
‘Heads of state not invited to Trump inaugural’© Donald Trump Campaign / File
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos will not attend the inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump, who will return to the White House this month after staging what has been described as one of the most remarkable political comebacks in modern history.
Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez will represent the Philippines during the inauguration, which will take place on Jan. 20.
“Since the 1800s, no head of state has been invited to the US presidential inauguration. Only ambassadors represented in Washington, DC are invited,” Romualdez said in a text message to The STAR.
“I am looking forward to working once again with president Trump’s administration,” he said after he met with the president-elect at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez said the US secretary of state, on behalf of the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, has invited the chiefs of diplomatic missions and their spouses to represent their respective heads of state and their governments at the principal inaugural events.
“In this case, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez will represent (President Marcos) at the inauguration,” Chavez said in a statement issued yesterday.
He added that there is no confirmation on whether Marcos would visit the US to meet with Trump in the early months of 2025.
Marcos has visited the US four times since becoming president in 2022.
His first trip was in September that year, when he participated in the general debate at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, while his second was his official visit from April 30 to May 4, 2023.
In November of the same year, the President went to San Francisco to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting.
He also went to Los Angeles to tour a SpaceX facility and to Hawaii to visit the US Indo-Pacific Command.
His fourth and latest visit to the US was his attendance at the first US-Japan-Philippines trilateral summit held in April last year.
Trump became the 45th president of the US after beating Hillary Clinton in 2016, but lost his reelection bid to Joe Biden in 2020.
Trump faced a string of legal challenges, including his conviction on 34 felony counts in his home city of New York.
Despite his court battles and controversies, he managed to pull off a convincing victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential race, securing 312 electoral votes against his rival’s 226.
Trump, the first US leader to be convicted of a crime, also won the popular vote, garnering 77.28 million votes against Harris’ 75 million.
In a recent statement, Marcos said he is looking forward to working with Trump on various issues that would benefit the Philippines and the US.
Marcos also expressed optimism that Trump’s “robust leadership” would result in a better future for the two countries.
“President Trump has won, and the American people have triumphed. I congratulate them on their victory in an exercise that showed the world the strength of American values,” Marcos said following the results of the US presidential elections in November last year
“I am hopeful that this unshakeable alliance, tested in war and peace, will be a force for good, blazing a path of prosperity and amity in the region and on both sides of the Pacific,” he added.
Positive momentum
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines looks forward to working with the incoming Trump administration, continuing the positive momentum in economic, security and defense cooperation between the two countries.
The DFA welcomed the call between Marcos and Trump on Nov. 19.
The agency noted the congratulatory call, described by Marcos as very friendly and productive, underscored the positive momentum and trajectory in the Philippines’ bilateral relations with the US and highlighted the positive role of Filipino-Americans in US society, including in the recent successful and peaceful conduct of US elections.
“The United States remains an important ally, partner and friend to the Philippines. We look forward to working with the Trump administration in ensuring that Philippines-US relations remain robust and benefit from continuing the positive momentum in security and defense cooperation, economic partnership, as well as broader and deeper engagement across other areas of mutual interest,” the DFA said. – Pia Lee Brago
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