United States President Donald Trump praised President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during their first face-to-face meeting held at the White House on Tuesday.

Trump, who is in his second term after first serving as president from 2017 to 2021, repeatedly said he was greatly honored by President Marcos’ visit.

“It’s a great honor to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines. Great family, great family legacy, and highly respected in his country,” Trump said in a live news conference with President Marcos inside the Oval Office of the White House before the start of their official bilateral meeting.

“I know that because I have many friends in the Philippines. There’s great respect or I couldn’t say it, so congratulations,” Trump added.

President Marcos thanked his American counterpart for the reaffirmation of the “ironclad” alliance between the two military treaty allies.

“I think it is worthwhile to remember that it was President Trump who, in his first term, characterized the relationship between the Philippines and the United States as ‘ironclad.’ And that has been necessarily the case since that time that you made that statement, sir. And it is something that the Philippines will always hold close to its heart,” President Marcos said.

Trump also thanked President Marcos for reinstituting the alliance, describing the Philippines as a “very important nation militarily.”

“And I just want to thank you for being with us. It’s a great honor, you and your representatives. It’s really a great, great honor,” Trump stressed.

President Marcos concluded his three-day official visit to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.

The President became the first Southeast Asian leader to be hosted by President Trump after being reelected in November, highlighting the deepening ties between Manila and Washington. | PND