MANILA – Philippine Ambassador to the United States (US) Jose Manuel Romualdez will attend US President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Malacañang said Wednesday.
In a statement, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez said the US invited the chief of diplomatic missions to represent their respective countries at Trump’s inauguration.
“The Palace confirms that the Secretary of State, on behalf of the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, invited the Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions, along with their spouses, to represent their respective heads of state and their governments at the principal inaugural events,” Chavez said.
“In this case, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez will represent PBBM [President Bongbong Marcos] at the inauguration,” he added.
Trump, who served as US president from 2017-2021, earned a fresh mandate from the Americans in the 2024 elections after defeating outgoing US vice president Kamala Harris.
Chavez also said there was no confirmation yet whether Marcos would visit the US to meet with Trump in the early months of 2025.
In a phone call in November, Marcos congratulated Trump for his second term as US president.
They also discussed the longstanding alliance between the US and the Philippines.
The US has been the Philippines’ oldest and strongest military ally. (PNA)