Politics Trump makes English the official language of the USA
US President Donald Trump has declared English to be the official language of the United States by decree. The decree allows authorities to communicate exclusively in English or in other languages in future. In doing so, Trump repealed a decree issued more than 20 years ago by then Democratic President Bill Clinton. This stipulated that official services and documents should also be made available in other languages so that people with a poor command of English are not disadvantaged.
02.03.2025, 07:22
SDA
English is by far the most widely spoken language in the USA and is used for official communication. However, unlike in some of the 50 states, there has been no officially defined official language at federal level to date. Many authorities also publish their documents in Spanish, for example - the second most widely spoken language in the USA after English. According to government figures, more than 350 languages are spoken in the United States.
"Strengthening national values" or harassing migrants?
The government's text accompanying Trump's decree states: "Making English the official language will not only standardize communication, but also reinforce shared national values and create a more cohesive and efficient society." Speaking English helps immigrants to gain a foothold in the job market, participate in national traditions and "give something back to our society".
However, there is also criticism of the decision. The US organization United We Dream, which campaigns for the rights of immigrants, warned that the government would use the decree to prevent school lessons for children of foreign origin in languages other than English. Trump's decree would encourage immigration authorities to "single out and harass individuals who speak a certain way".
Shortly after taking office, Trump had already had the Spanish version of the White House website removed from the internet. This decision and the message it sent out to immigrants also sparked criticism.
