Trump to declare English the official language of the United States

The United States has never had an official language. English has become dominant, but it coexists with dozens of other languages in a country forged by immigrants of very diverse backgrounds. It has never needed the seal of official language. However, Donald Trump is preparing to approve a decree that makes English the official language in the country, according to various U.S. media outlets.

As part of his xenophobic and anti-immigration rhetoric, Trump pointed out during his campaign that people were arriving in the country who spoke languages “that no one has ever heard in the United States,” something he described as “horrible.” As soon as he returned to office as president, Trump deleted the Spanish version of the White House website, which remains unavailable. The new administration has also deleted White House profiles in Spanish on social media: “This account does not exist,” X warns about @LaCasaBlanca.

The White House defends the move to declare English an official language, saying that while hundreds of languages are spoken in the country, English is the most widely used. It also argues that establishing a national language unifies the country and its citizens. “Establishing English as the official language promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement,” it said in a brief defending the move.

Spanish is the second most-spoken language in the United States, especially by the millions of immigrants of Latin origin of different generations who live in the country.

The White House has not yet made public the content of the order or announced a date for its approval. Declaring English as an official language will allow federal agencies to maintain their current policies and continue to provide documents and services in other languages. However, the gesture “encourages new Americans to adopt a national language that opens the door to greater opportunities,” according to the White House.

Trump’s executive order will also rescind an August 2000 provision by former president Bill Clinton that required agencies and other recipients of federal funds to provide services to people with limited English proficiency.

The move comes amid Trump’s crusade against immigration and a crackdown on programs that promote diversity, equality, and inclusion. On his first day in office, the president signed an order directing federal agencies to end all “equality-related” grants or contracts. He then signed an order requiring federal contractors to certify that they do not promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. A federal judge struck down some of those provisions.

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