Trump's Move to Unify America
President Trump is set to sign an executive order that will make English the official language of the U.S., a move that aims to unify the nation and celebrate its heritage.
In a groundbreaking decision, President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order that will officially designate English as the language of the United States. This historic move, confirmed early Friday morning, is set to be enacted later in the day, marking a significant shift in national policy. The executive order will overturn a mandate established by former President Bill Clinton in 2000, which compelled federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to offer language assistance to non-English speakers. A White House official shared that this change is intended to streamline federal operations and foster a more cohesive national identity.
Throughout nearly 250 years of history, the U.S. has never officially recognized a national language, despite the fact that all major documents, including the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, have been penned in English. This places the U.S. among a minority of countries without an official language, with about 180 of the 195 countries globally having established one. The decision to make English the official language reflects a desire to align with global norms and celebrate the linguistic heritage of the nation.
The new policy will empower individual federal agencies to determine whether to provide services in languages other than English. This flexibility allows for a tailored approach to language services, ensuring that the needs of diverse communities are met while promoting the use of English as a unifying force. President Trump’s decision comes after years of discussing the potential benefits of an official language, particularly in the context of immigration policies under the Biden administration.
During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2024, Trump highlighted the challenges posed by the influx of new languages into the country. “We have languages coming into our country. We don’t have one instructor in our entire nation that can speak that language,” he stated. “These are languages—it’s the craziest thing—they have languages that nobody in this country has ever heard of. It’s a very horrible thing.” This executive order aims to address these concerns by promoting English as a common language that can bridge cultural divides and empower immigrants to achieve the American dream.
The move to make English the official language is part of a broader effort by President Trump to celebrate and preserve American heritage. Since reclaiming the Oval Office in January, Trump has signed at least 76 executive orders, many of which focus on celebrating the nation’s history and identity. Notable actions include renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and restoring the name Mount McKinley to the tallest peak in the U.S., reversing the Obama-era designation of Mount Denali.
These actions reflect a commitment to honoring the legacy of the United States and ensuring that its cultural and historical landmarks are recognized and respected. The decision to make English the official language is a testament to this commitment, as it seeks to unite Americans under a common linguistic banner and celebrate the contributions of multilingual Americans who have embraced English and passed it down through generations.