English Now Official US Language Under Trump
In a groundbreaking move, President Trump has signed an executive order declaring English as the official language of the United States, aiming to foster unity and a shared culture.
President Trump’s recent executive order marks a significant shift in U.S. policy, revoking a previous directive by former President Bill Clinton. Clinton’s 2000 order, titled ‘Improving Access Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,’ mandated that federal agencies and recipients of federal funding provide language assistance to non-English speakers. Trump’s new order, however, does not mandate immediate changes in the services provided by agencies. Instead, it leaves the decision to implement changes to the discretion of agency heads.
The signing of this order took place on a Saturday, with President Trump departing from the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, shortly after. This executive action underscores a long-standing belief that English should serve as the unifying language of the nation, a sentiment echoed in every historic governing document of the United States.
Despite the absence of an official language until now, the importance of a national language in fostering a cohesive society cannot be overstated. ‘A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language,’ President Trump stated in the order. This move aligns the U.S. with approximately 180 of the 195 countries worldwide that have established an official language.
Trump’s advocacy for English as the nation’s language has been vocal, particularly in 2024, when he criticized former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump highlighted the influx of languages into the country, stating, ‘We have languages coming into our country. We don’t have one instructor in our entire nation that can speak that language. 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.’
The executive order aims to ‘promote unity’ and ‘cultivate a shared American culture for all citizens,’ ensuring consistency in government operations and paving the way for greater civic engagement. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to strengthen national identity and streamline government processes.
It’s noteworthy that First Lady Melania Trump herself speaks at least five languages, including English, French, Italian, German, and Slovene, showcasing the multilingual capabilities within the administration while supporting the push for English as the official language.
Since reclaiming the Oval Office in January, President Trump has been prolific in issuing executive orders, with this being at least the 76th. Other notable actions include renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and restoring the name Mount McKinley to the mountain previously renamed Mount Denali by the Obama administration.
This executive order not only reflects President Trump’s commitment to reinforcing American identity but also sets a precedent for future administrations to consider the role of language in national unity. By establishing English as the official language, the administration aims to ensure that all citizens can participate fully in the civic life of the nation, fostering a stronger, more cohesive society.