United States President Joseph Biden announced the designation of a presidential delegation that will attend the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on June 30, the White House said.
Biden's announcement came days before Marcos Jr. took his oath as the 17th President of the Philippines at the National Museum in Manila on Thursday.
According to the White House, Douglas Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States, will lead the delegation.
The other members of the delegation are:
- Ms. Heather Variava, Chargé d'Affaires, ad interim, US Embassy Manila
- The Honorable Bobby Scott, Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, United States Representative (D), Virginia
- The Honorable Nani Coloretti, Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget
- Admiral James “Sandy” Winnefeld, Jr. (Ret.), Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- The Honorable Edgard Kagan, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania, National Security Council
- The Honorable Chantale Wong, US Director of the Asian Development Bank
Marcos Jr. will be taking his oath at the National Museum instead of the Quirino Grandstand, where presidential inaugurations were usually held. The incoming leader explained this was because Covid-19 facilities were still in the area.
Despite this change, Marcos Jr. assured that his inauguration would be a solemn celebration. He, however, hoped that the weather would cooperate on his special day as it had been raining the past few weeks.