Former President Rodrigo Duterte has extended his congratulations to Donald Trump on his victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Trump secured the presidency after surpassing 270 electoral votes, reclaiming key battleground states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, and winning the popular vote—a first for a Republican candidate in over two decades.
Duterte, who led the Philippines during Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, shared a message of hope for the renewed U.S. leadership. “I extend my warm congratulations on your election as President of the United States of America,” Duterte said. He expressed his wish for the success of Trump’s new administration, emphasizing mutual goals: “I look forward to the success of your administration and to our shared aspirations for greater peace and prosperity for our countries and peoples.”
Duterte and Trump first met during the 2017 ASEAN Summit in Manila, where they discussed a range of topics, including trade, counterterrorism, and drug policy. While the White House indicated that human rights were briefly mentioned, Duterte’s spokesperson denied this. Their interaction was seen as significant due to Duterte’s controversial policies and his often-tense relationship with the previous U.S. administration.
