‘They didn’t know what they were doing’: Trump blasts Duterte-era diplomacy
MANILA, Philippines — In the first-ever meeting between US President Donald Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Trump took a swipe at the latter’s predecessor, saying that former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration “did not know what they were doing.”
Duterte met with Trump during the latter’s first term in 2017. However, as Duterte’s presidency progressed, he distanced the Philippines from the US, surprising the country’s longtime ally.
Now, Trump is back in power, while Duterte is detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity.
During a joint interview with Marcos, Trump criticized Duterte for his foreign policies.
“I can say that the last administration was not getting along with them too well. They didn’t get along with anybody… honestly, they didn’t know what they were doing,” the US leader said.
When Trump said this, Marcos merely smiled.
Trump made the remarks amid a heated political rivalry back in the Philippines. Vice President Sara Duterte has repeatedly criticized President Marcos and even claimed she once hired a hitman to assassinate him in the event of her death.
Now, the US president appears satisfied with Washington’s current relationship with the Marcos administration.
“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. But, you know, you did have — you had a country that was tilting toward China for a period of time, and I just don't think that would have been good for you,” Trump said.
“You can deal with China. You should deal with China. But when I got elected, everything changed, and they came right back to us,” he added.
Duterte notably leaned toward China during his term, allowing Beijing a stronger presence in the West Philippine Sea in a bid to maintain peace in the disputed waters.
Trump said he did not mind if the Philippines maintained friendly ties with China, even as US-China relations soured under his leadership, with Beijing facing steep tariffs.
After taking a swipe at Duterte for favoring China, Trump clarified that he had no issue with Marcos engaging in deals with the East Asian giant.
“I don't mind if the President (Marcos) dealt with China…I think he has to do what's right for his country. I've always said, you know, make the Philippines great again. Do whatever you need to do,” Trump said.
The relationship between Manila and Beijing has also grown tense during Marcos’ term as his administration has taken a more decisive stance over the West Philippine Sea, reaffirming its claim over the flashpoint waters.
US support for the West Philippine Sea remained consistent under the Biden administration and appears to have continued into Trump’s current term.
While Marcos has indeed worked to strengthen US-Philippines relations after Duterte, those efforts began during the administration of former US President Joe Biden.
Marcos met with Biden and former US Vice President Kamala Harris on multiple occasions to reaffirm the alliance between Manila and Washington.
Despite significantly reinvesting in US-Philippines ties, Marcos maintains that the country upholds an independent foreign policy.
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