Surangel Whipps Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honorable Surangel Whipps Jr.
Whipps in 2025
10th President of Palau
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 January 2021
Vice President	Uduch Sengebau Senior Raynold Oilouch
Preceded by	Thomas Remengesau Jr.
Member of the Senate of Palau
In office 2008–2016
Personal details
Born	(1968-08-09) 9 August 1968 (age 56) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Valerie Whipps ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	4 (3 daughters and 1 son)
Parents	Surangel S. Whipps (father) Marilyn C. Whipps (mother)
Relatives	Mason Whipps (brother) Thomas Remengesau Jr. (brother-in-law) Thomas Remengesau Sr. (father-in-law; deceased)
Education	Andrews University (BS) University of California Los Angeles (MBA)

Surangel Samuel Whipps Jr. was born on August 9, 1968. He is a businessman and politician from Palau. Since January 21, 2021, he has been the President of Palau. Before becoming president, he served as a senator from 2008 to 2016. He is from the State of Ngatpang.

Early Life and Education

Whipps, his wife Valerie, and President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen in March 2021.

Surangel Whipps Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. His father is Surangel Whipps Sr., and his mother is from Maryland. He has both Palauan and American family roots.

He studied Business Administration and Economics at Andrews University. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Mr. Whipps also manages a group of supermarkets in Palau.

In the 2016 Palauan general election, he ran for president against his brother-in-law, Thomas Remengesau Jr.. Mr. Remengesau was seeking re-election. Whipps received 4,854 votes, while Remengesau won with 5,109 votes.

Personal Life

Whipps and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the White House in May 2022.

Surangel Whipps Jr. married Valerie Esang Remengesau in 1999. They have four children together: three daughters and one son. He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Becoming President of Palau

Whipps ran for president in the 2020 Palauan presidential election. He won against Vice President Raynold Oilouch. During his campaign, he talked about changing tax rules and finding new ways for Palau to earn money.

In an interview, President-elect Whipps Jr. said that Palau would take a stronger stand against actions by the Chinese government. This included issues like illegal fishing and ships entering Palauan waters without permission. He also promised that Palau would continue to recognize Taiwan as a country. He also planned to give the COVID-19 vaccine to people in Palau, especially healthcare workers.

Important Speeches and Visits

During the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, Whipps gave a powerful speech. He said, "We are drowning, and our only hope is the life-ring you are holding." This was a strong message to world leaders about climate change.

On September 28, 2022, he attended the state funeral for Shinzo Abe, Japan's former Prime Minister, in Tokyo. Whipps was one of only seven heads of state who met with the Japanese Emperor Naruhito at this event.

In October 2022, President Whipps visited Taiwan for the second time as president. He arrived on October 5 and was welcomed by President Tsai Ing-wen.

President Whipps is also part of the advisory council for the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University. This group works to help new technologies be used in ways that support freedom.

Re-election and Recent Work

In the 2024 Palauan general election, Whipps Jr. was re-elected for his second term. He received 5,626 votes, defeating former president Thomas Remengesau Jr., who received 4,103 votes.

On July 29, 2024, he gave a speech called Upholding the Common Heritage of Humankind. He delivered this speech to the International Seabed Authority Assembly in Jamaica. In his speech, he spoke against seabed mining.

See also

In Spanish: Surangel Whipps Jr. para niños