Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump speaks in the library at Mar-a-Lago on 4 March, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Trump can appear on this year's presidential ballot in all states. Photo: ALON SKUY / AFP
Governor Arnold Palacios, who led a coalition of Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands and independent candidates in the 2024 CNMI general elections, has congratulated President-elect Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States.
"As governor, my foremost commitment is to the well-being of our Commonwealth, its economic development, and the improvement of the standard of living of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands," he said.
"I am hopeful that the new administration led by President-elect Trump will bring new opportunities to collaborate in identifying and implementing innovative and effective solutions that mutually benefit the United States and the CNMI."
Despite supporting Democrats and independent candidates in the last elections, Palacios said that, at the end of the day, he respects the mandate of the people and is ready to work with Trump, the Republican Party's standard-bearer.
"As I've emphasised many times in presentations to members of the US Congress and in other national forums, the CNMI is committed to supporting the country's interests in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region, a priority that transcends party lines.:
Photo: Mark Rabago
Palacios, who ran under the CNMI Republican Party in former governor Ralph DLG Torres' ticket in 2018, said he looks forward to working with the incoming administration of Trump.
"We stand ready to work with the new president and his team to advance the country's and CNMI's interests.
"Additionally, I am committed to maintaining an open line of communication with the president and the federal government to ensure that the Commonwealth's goals and priorities are included in the new administration's agenda," he added.
Meanwhile, the incoming US delegate in the Northern Mariana Islands Kimberlyn King-Hinds said she is looking forward to working with the incoming Republican Party majority in the 119th US Congress come January.
King-Hinds, who won about 40 percent of the vote, assured her constituents that she will have the people of the islands' best interests when she begins her two-year term.
She said her job is to bring results to the community regardless of who the president is.
King-Hinds said her priorities include restoring the CNMI tourism industry, work on the CNMI-only Transition Worker program - which is set to end in 2029 - and improving the cost of living by addressing the high rates of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.