President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spoke with United States President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday, November 19.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to areas hit by recent typhoons in Catanduanes, President Marcos Jr. described his call with the incoming United States President as 'very friendly' and 'very productive'.
"I am glad that I was able to do it and I think President-elect Trump was also happy to hear from the Philippines," President Marcos Jr. told reporters.
President Marcos Jr. said that he brought up the alliance between the Philippines and the United States during the call.
"I expressed to him our continuing desire to strengthen that relationship between our two countries, which is a relationship that is as deep as can possibly be because it has been for a very long time," President Marcos Jr. said.
He also mentioned that many Filipinos voted for Trump during the 2024 national elections in the United States.
President Marcos Jr. also expressed his desire to meet with Trump soon.
"I also reminded the President-elect that ang mga Pilipino sa Amerika overwhelmingly naging, binoto nila si Trump," the Philippines President remarked.
"Kaya’t I’m sure maaalala niya ‘yan pagka tayo ay, ‘pag nagkita kami at plano kong makipagkita sa kanya as soon as I can," he added.
However, President Marcos Jr. admitted that he did not discuss with Trump the issue of illegal Filipino immigrants in the United States.
During his campaign, Trump promised a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
"No, we didn’t talk about that. We didn’t talk about that. It was just a congratulatory call. But, of course, our ambassador is already working on that," President Marcos Jr. assured.
