Trump recalls China-leaning Philippine leader while praising Marcos

Metro Manila, Philippines - US President Donald Trump took a swipe at a previous administration during a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., accusing it of leaning toward China and straining ties with Washington.

Speaking alongside Marcos in Washington, Trump contrasted the current “fantastic” US-Philippine relationship with what he described as a troubled past under an unnamed predecessor — widely interpreted to be former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The last administration was not getting along with them too well. They didn’t get along with anybody,” Trump said. “They didn’t know, honestly, they didn’t know what they were doing.”

He went further, directly referencing the Philippines' brief diplomatic pivot toward Beijing and placing the blame squarely on Duterte’s leadership.

“I know you had some problems with another president, and it was not your fault, it was the president’s fault, and the country was maybe tilting toward China, but we un-tilted it very, very quickly,” Trump told Marcos.

Trump praised Marcos for restoring close military cooperation, pointing to recent joint drills and strong defense coordination. He said relations between Washington and Manila had dramatically improved since his election.

“We’re back with them,” Trump said. “When I got elected, everything changed, and they came right back to us.”

Marcos, in turn, reaffirmed the Philippines’ long-standing alliance with the United States, calling it the country’s “strongest and most reliable partner.” He emphasized the importance of defense cooperation, particularly amid growing tensions in the South China Sea.

While Trump hailed his warm ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping and noted an invitation to visit China, he showed no concern over Marcos maintaining dialogue with Beijing.

“You should deal with China… that wouldn’t bother me at all,” Trump said.