MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is awaiting confirmation from the White House if United States President Donald Trump will attend the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in November.
“We are yet to receive confirmation from the White House,” Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez told DZRH.
According to reports, Trump will likely join the ASEAN Summit and will undergo a separate state visit with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Last July 2025 during Marcos’ official visit to Washington D.C., he extended a formal invitation to Trump, highlighting the significance of the country’s alliance with the United States and the strength of the Philippines-U.S. alliance in maintaining regional stability.
“I look forward to hosting President Trump next year to attend the ASEAN meetings under the Philippines’ chair, which also coincides with the commemoration of our 80th year of diplomatic ties and 75 years of the Mutual Defense Treaty,” President Marcos said in his arrival statement after a three-day official visit to the United States last year.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed optimism on the possibility of Trump joining the regional forum.
During his visit to Manila last July for the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) , Rubio said that Trump “would like to” attend the ASEAN Summit in November, but cannot give a firm announcement as he does not have control over Trump’s schedule.
Rubio mentioned that Trump was in Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit last year, which shows that he considers it an “important forum” and that the visit in Manila will be discussed.
If the visit pushes through, Trump is expected to attend ASEAN-related summit meetings, as well as a separate bilateral meeting to discuss issues on trade, investment, regional security, defense cooperation and discussion related to the South China Sea issue.
The last time Trump visited the Philippines was in 2017 when Manila also hosted the ASEAN Summit.
