Trump has determined that English in the only official language of the United States.

Trump signs executive order making English the US’ official language – What does this mean?

For the first time in U.S. history, English has been designated as the official national language, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Saturday.

The move marks a significant shift in federal language policy, overturning previous mandates requiring government agencies to provide multilingual support.

What the Executive Order Does
As stated on the official White House website, the executive order not only declares English as the country’s official language but also rescinds a 2000 directive issued by former President Bill Clinton that required federal agencies and recipients of government funding to offer language assistance services to non-English speakers.

Under the new policy, federal agencies can now choose whether to continue providing multilingual materials and services, instead of being mandated to do so.

The Impact of an Official Language
Per The Washington Post, the designation of an official language primarily affects how the government conducts its day-to-day operations, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

The institute notes that establishing an official language can “define the character of the state and the cultural identity of the people within it” but also warns that it may lead to the exclusion of those who do not speak the language fluently.

Currently, more than 30 states have laws recognizing English as their official language — including California, Alabama, Florida, Colorado, and Tennessee. Hawaii has two official languages — English and Hawaiian — while Alaska recognizes 21 languages, including English and several Indigenous languages.

Trump’s Justification for the Order
The Trump administration argues that the new language policy will promote national unity and increase government efficiency.

Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society,” the executive order states.

The White House has long linked the issue of an official language to immigration, noting that more than 350 languages are spoken across the US.

Trump has criticized the use of foreign languages in public discourse in the past, including during the 2016 presidential race, when he took aim at then-rival Jeb Bush for speaking Spanish while campaigning.

“This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish,” Trump said at the time.

Shortly after taking office in 2017, Trump also removed the Spanish-language version of the official White House website – a move seen as signaling a shift away from multilingual government communications. The same move was taken upon Trump taking office back in January.

Despite this, Republican political strategists have continued to invest in Spanish-language outreach, recognizing its importance for reaching Latino voters. Trump himself ran Spanish-language ads during both the 2020 and 2024 election campaigns.