Donald Trump returns to US presidency

Donald Trump on Monday (early Tuesday, Philippines time) was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, completing a comeback after losing his reelection bid in 2020 to Joe Biden.

Trump, now both the 45th and 47th president, was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts at an indoor ceremony at the US Capitol, which a mob of his supporters attacked four years earlier to protest his election loss. 

Also in attendance were his family—wife Melania Trump, children Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany and Barron—and his running mate JD Vance.

Former presidents Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton were also there, as were Hillary Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran against Trump in 2016, and outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he defeated in the 2024 polls.

Elon Musk, who threw his support and his money behind the Trump campaign, and fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, could also be seen among the crowd behind Trump as he was sworn in.

US-Philippines relations

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez earlier said there would be no changes to the US' policy on the Indo-Pacific region including West Philippine Sea with the change in leadership in the US.

“I don’t think there will be any [changes] dahil narinig natin yung [because we heard in the] confirmation hearing ni incoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio, very clear na the United States will be very supportive of Taiwan, the Philippines, and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region that’s facing the challenges with China,” Romualdez told Unang Balita in an interview. — BM, GMA Integrated News