Trump praises Portugal in video message, hints at visit 'maybe soon' for 250th Independence Day
The US president recorded a message for the Lisbon embassy ahead of July 4th, praising the country's golf courses and ambassador John Arrigo.
Trump's video message
On 1 July, President Donald Trump recorded a video from the White House addressed to the US Embassy in Lisbon. The message was released ahead of the embassy's celebration on 4 July, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
I gave him the opportunity to choose the country where he wanted to serve and he chose Portugal. And maybe it's because of your excellent golf courses.
Trump described the ambassador as a "great friend" and praised his skills on the course, noting Arrigo had won several amateur championships.
Ambassador John Arrigo
John J. Arrigo, the US ambassador to Portugal since 2025, is a former auto industry executive. Before his diplomatic role, he was vice president of the Arrigo Auto Group in Florida. According to Trump, he let Arrigo pick his preferred posting and the choice fell on Portugal. The president joked that the country's golf courses might have influenced the decision.
Arrigo responded on X, calling the video an "honour" and describing his posting as an extraordinary experience.
It has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve this administration in such an incredible country.
Praise for Portugal and hint of a visit
Trump's message included warm words for Portugal, saying "we love Portugal" and calling the country "a great friend". He added,
The statement left open the possibility of a future official trip, though no date was given.We look forward to seeing you one day, maybe soon.
250th Independence Day context
The video was recorded for the US embassy's 4 July event. This year the United States commemorates two and a half centuries since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The US government has been running celebratory initiatives at home and through its diplomatic missions throughout 2026.
US-Portugal relations
Portugal and the United States are long-standing NATO allies, cooperating on political, economic, and defence matters. A previous rumour of a Trump visit surfaced in 2019 after an invitation from Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, but was denied by the embassy at the time.
