Amb. Romualdez to discuss date of Marcos-Trump meeting in Washington

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Sunday that he is scheduled for a meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss the highly anticipated meetup between Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and US President Donald Trump.

Romualdez said that officials “will find the right time” with regards to the meeting of the two leaders.

“Paalis pa lang ako pabalik sa Washington, D.C. at meron akong meeting doon sa Washington, tungkol precisely…one of our meetings is to precisely to discuss kung kailan ang possible meeting between President Trump and President Marcos,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(I’m about to leave for Washington, D.C. because I have a meeting there. One of our meetings is to precisely discuss the date of the possible meeting between President Trump and President Marcos.) 

The ambassador said he hopes that the meeting will be conducted by the second quarter of 2025. 

“Malalaman natin ‘yan pagdating ng araw. Pero I'm hoping na before the second quarter…before summer because kasi, nakikita naman natin busy si President Trump sa kanyang mga ginagawa na ngayon… at si President Marcos naman, eleksyon sa atin,” Romualdez explained.

(We will know that soon. But I’m hoping it will be before the second quarter…before summer because President Trump is busy now and it is also election season in the Philippines.) 

“So hahanapan natin ng date na talagang makakapunta dahil siyempre it takes 20 hours to get to Washington DC, mahaba-habang biyahe rin ‘yan para kay…President Marcos,” he added. 

(So we will find a feasible date because it would take President Marcos 20 hours to get to Washington from Manila.) 

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro earlier said that Marcos and Trump have expressed a mutual intention to have a meeting, but it has no definite date yet.

When Trump was sworn into power in January, Marcos congratulated him, saying that he looks forward to working closely with the Republican's administration.

“I look forward to working closely with you and your Administration. The strong and lasting PH-US alliance will continue to uphold our shared vision of prosperity and security in the region,” Marcos said. — RF, GMA Integrated News