FACT CHECK: Marcos not arrested in the US

Claim: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was arrested in the United States following orders from US President Donald Trump. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video containing the claim was posted on March 10 and has earned 41,730 views, 6,200 likes, and 407 comments as of writing. The YouTube channel that posted the video, “News Update Files,” currently has 62,700 subscribers. 

The video’s title reads, “Arestado na! Marcos Jr. kulong na! Hinuli ni Trump sa America! Gumamit ng illegal? Yare lagot na!”

(Marcos Jr. arrested and caught by Trump in America! Marcos allegedly using something illegal?)

The video’s thumbnail also shows Trump seemingly holding an arrest warrant for Marcos and a supposed mugshot of the Philippine leader. 

The facts: Marcos was not arrested in the US. The video offers no evidence for its claim, instead featuring unrelated commentary about Vice President Sara Duterte and corruption allegations made by 18 individuals identifying themselves as ex-Marines.

Marcos visited New York from March 9 to 10 to speak at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women and during a special session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Marcos also did not meet Trump during his working visit. The President returned to the Philippines on March 11. 

In his speech to the UNGA, Marcos advocated for multilateral cooperation and echoed calls for de-escalation amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Marcos also pushed for the Philippines to gain a seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2027–2028. (READ: Marcos at the UN: Philippines’ push for Security Council seat)

“We lodged our candidature, mindful that a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council is not a right of any State, but a privilege earned through consistent, dedicated, meaningful and concrete partnership, in the service of the United Nations, and so of humanity,” the President said. Elections for the seat take place in June 2026. 

DFA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Angelica Escalona stated that a seat in the Security Council would give the Philippines a stronger voice in global peace and security issues. Marcos previously made a bid for a Philippine seat in the UN Security Council when he addressed the UNGA for the first time in 2022. 

Marcos-Trump: On July 22, 2025, Marcos made his first official visit to the White House under the Trump presidency. The meeting came after the Trump administration announced a 20% tariff on Philippine exports, which went down by 1 point after the two leaders met. Trump also said of their meeting, “We’re going to be talking about trade, war and peace. They’re a very important nation militarily.”

Previous fact-checks: Rappler has previously fact-checked other posts about Marcos claiming the existence of alleged arrest orders against him:

• FACT CHECK: No Supreme Court-led raid, drug-related arrests in Malacañang 
• FACT CHECK: No Supreme Court arrest warrant for Marcos
• FACT CHECK: Marcos not arrested over illegal drugs

– Ramon Franco Verano/Rappler.com

Ramon Franco Verano is a graduate of Rappler’s volunteer program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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