MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has invited United States President Donald Trump to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the Philippines, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said.

Speaking on OneNews’ Storycon on Saturday, February 7, Romualdez said Marcos extended the invitation during his visit to the White House in July 2025.

“When President Marcos went to the White House last July, that’s one of the things we mentioned to President Trump,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez added that Trump’s attendance would depend on his schedule, citing the U.S. midterm elections later this year.

“Hopefully the schedule will allow President Trump to come to Asia,” he said.

Marcos visited the White House last year following Trump’s announcement that the United States would impose a 20% tariff on several countries, including the Philippines. The meeting resulted in a revised arrangement that lowered the tariff to 19% on Philippine exports, which Marcos later described as a “significant achievement.”

The Philippines is hosting the 48th and 49th ASEAN Summits this year as part of its fourth stint as ASEAN chair. The country began its ASEAN 2026 chairship by hosting several events, including the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Cebu from January 25 to 29 and the ASEAN Tourism Forum from January 26 to 30.

The 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit is scheduled for May 8 to 9 in Cebu, followed by the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from November 10 to 12.