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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Trump's 'personal connection' with Marcos advantage for PH—envoy

Trump's 'personal connection' with Marcos advantage for PH—envoy

Published Jul 21, 2025 02:26 pm
The Philippines will benefit from the “personal connection” between President Marcos and United States President Donald Trump as it is clear the US leader values his friendship with the Marcoses, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and US President Donald Trump (Malacañang, White House photos)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and US President Donald Trump (Malacañang, White House photos)
In a press conference on Sunday, July 20 (US time), the ambassador recalled the phone call between Marcos and Trump on Nov. 5 after the US president won the elections.

It was during the phone call that Trump mentioned former first lady Imelda Marcos, the President’s mother, and sent his regards to her.

“And that basically set the tone,” Romualdez said. “There is a personal connection between President Marcos Jr. and Mrs. Imelda Marcos and President Trump.”

“And so that connection, that personal connection obviously is significant in the sense that we all know President Trump is very personal in his relationships with world leaders. And I think that that connection tells you how he values friendship and it is an advantage obviously for the Philippines that President Marcos has that personal connection with President Trump,” he added.

The ambassador also confirmed that Marcos was invited to stay at the Blair House, which is “quite significant and historical” since his father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., also stayed in the same lodgings when he was invited by then US President Ronald Reagan.

Also known as The President’s Guest House, the Blair House sits across the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. It’s the US president who extends an invitation to a guest to stay in the Blair House.

“And I think the invitation of President Trump for him to stay at the Blair House is significant in the sense that when you are invited to stay at the presidential guest house here in Washington, that means something, that you're obviously given importance by your host, and staying there is important,” the envoy said.

He told the President that “it would be wonderful for him to stay there” because of his parents’ own link to the place.

Marcos arrived in Washington on July 20, and is scheduled to meet with Trump on July 22 (US time). He will also meet separately with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on July 21.

The President is the first head-of-state from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to meet the US president since his return to office earlier this year.

Related Tags

Donald Trump United States President Marcos personal connection Blair House
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