No confirmation vote yet on new US envoy – embassyMANILA, Philippines — The confirmation vote on the nomination of businessman-turned-diplomat Lee Lipton as the next United States ambassador to the Philippines has not yet taken place, the US embassy said yesterday. The embassy clarified that the Senate confirmation hearing on US President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as ambassador to Manila took place on March 5, but there was no voting yet. Trump nominated Lipton in October 2025 but his nomination was not confirmed due to procedural gridlock in the US Congress. He was nominated again on Jan. 13, 2026. At the Senate foreign relations committee hearing on March 5, Lipton faced questions on China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific and how he plans to strengthen the US-Philippines alliance.

Source: Philippine Star March 09, 2026 17:31 UTC