MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte congratulated Donald Trump on becoming the 47th President of the United States. Duterte shared old photos of himself and Trump together at the 2017 ASEAN Summit on Facebook, showing their past connection.
In his message, Duterte warmly said, “Congratulations on your election as President of the United States.” He expressed hope that Trump’s leadership would bring “renewed optimism and strength” to Americans.
Duterte also looked forward to a future of “peace and prosperity” between the Philippines and the U.S. He noted that during his presidency, he saw three different U.S. leaders, including Trump in his first term from 2017 to 2021.