Trump extending Asia trip to include key summit

by Jordan Fabian - 11/03/17 10:19 AM ET

President Trump will extend his first trip to Asia as president by one day to attend a major international summit in the Philippines, the White House announced Friday.

Trump had faced criticism over his initial decision to skip the East Asia Summit, an annual gathering of Asian nations and other partners countries, including the U.S. and Russia.

“We’re actually staying an extra day in the Philippines,” Trump told reporters before leaving on the five-nation trip. “We have a big conference, a second conference. And I think we’re going to have great success.”

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders later confirmed the move.

{mosads}The initial decision to skip the summit prompted condemnation from regional observers, who said Trump’s absence would erode U.S. credibility in the Asia-Pacific region at a time when China has been seeking to expand its influence.

Trump was scheduled to be in the region from Nov. 3 to 14. His trip includes stops in Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The marathon trip already includes two regional summits: the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ meeting in Danang, Vietnam, and the U.S.-Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in the Philippine capital of Manila.

The East Asia Summit will take place in the city of Angeles.