Trump nominates Florida businessman as next US ambassador to PH

Metro Manila, Philippines - United States President Donald Trump has chosen Florida businessman Lee Lipton as his nominee to serve as the next American ambassador to the Philippines, the White House announced on Thursday, Oct. 9.

Lipton, who currently serves as the interim Permanent Representative to the United States Mission to the Organization of American States (OAS), could succeed Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, who has represented Washington in Manila since 2022.

His nomination still requires confirmation by the US Senate. If approved, Lipton will be the first non-career diplomat in recent history to assume the post in the Philippines, one of America’s oldest treaty allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to the US State Department, Lipton oversees “staff operations, financial resources, and interagency coordination to advance US foreign policy priorities in the Western Hemisphere.” He also works on regional issues such as the security crisis in Haiti and efforts to counter what Washington describes as “malign influence,” particularly from the Chinese Communist Party.

Before joining public service, Lipton established a successful apparel business in New York City, managing the production and global marketing of licensed collections for brands including Calvin Klein, St. John Knits, and Guess. He later sold the company to a publicly listed firm and entered the hospitality industry, operating several oceanfront restaurants that remain among the busiest in Palm Beach County, Florida.

A profile on the State Department website describes Lipton as bringing “more than 25 years of private sector experience” to his diplomatic work, emphasizing his “results-driven leadership and strategic approach” in promoting economic cooperation and institutional efficiency.

Under both the Biden and Trump administrations, Washington and Manila have maintained what officials describe as an ironclad alliance, expanding defense cooperation through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and scaling up the annual Balikatan military exercises.

In a message to NewsWatch Plus, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez welcomes the appointment of the new US envoy.

"Amb designate Lipton is a good friend and supporter of Pres Trump. It means Pres Trump values the Philippines when he appoints a friend who has direct access to him," said Romualdez.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has visited the United States five times since 2022, a record for a Philippine leader in recent years, reaffirming the two nations’ long-standing partnership and commitment to regional stability under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

Next year, the Philippines and the United States will mark 80 years of diplomatic relations and 75 years of the Mutual Defense Treaty, milestones that underscore the enduring strength of their alliance.