My condolences to Madam Ngô Thị Mận and the people of Vietnam on the loss of Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, leader of Vietnam for the last 13 years.

General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng was a champion of the deep ties between the American and Vietnamese people whose leadership helped nurture the friendship and partnership our countries enjoy today. His 2015 historic visit to the White House was a milestone in our bilateral relationship. Thanks to his vision, during my 2023 state visit to Hanoi, Vietnam and the United States became “comprehensive strategic partners,” the highest level of partnership in the Vietnamese system. The people of Vietnam and the United States – and people across the Indo-Pacific region – enjoy greater security and opportunity today because of the friendship between our two countries. That is thanks to him.

The United States – and I personally – will remember and appreciate his commitment to reconciliation and to building a future oriented toward peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and around the world.  We honor his legacy and mourn his passing alongside the people of Vietnam.

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