President Trump’s executive order declaring English as the official language of the U.S. has ignited controversy. Historically, America’s founding documents were translated for Dutch and German speakers, demonstrating an early embrace of multilingualism. The order reflects the English-only movement and has been met with mixed reactions; proponents see it as recognition of English’s dominance, while critics argue it could alienate immigrants and hinder access to services. Legal experts note the order’s immediate impact may be limited. As America grapples with its linguistic diversity, many fear that this move could stigmatize non-English speakers, highlighting the ongoing debate about assimilation and identity.
President Trump’s executive order to establish English as the official language of the United States leaned on historical precedents, highlighting that the nation’s founding documents were crafted in English.
However, history reveals that not only English was used. Following the Constitution’s drafting in 1787, pro-ratification advocates printed translations for Dutch speakers in New York and German speakers in Pennsylvania, enabling them to grasp the concept of a “vollkommenere Vereinigung” — a more perfect union.
The ongoing debate regarding whether America should embrace one national language or celebrate its multilingual essence has sparked intense discussions for over a century, probing deeper themes about identity and assimilation in a nation where over 350 languages are spoken.
Now, Mr. Trump’s executive order imposes an “America first” label on the nation’s discourse.
His order marks a significant achievement for the English-only movement, which is linked to efforts aimed at restricting immigration and bilingual education. Advocates argue that it reflects the reality of English’s dominance in American society, as nearly 80 percent of the populace speaks only English, and immigrants have traditionally had to prove their English skills for citizenship.
Senator Eric Schmitt, a Republican from Missouri, referred to it as a “long, long overdue” formal recognition that “in this country, we speak English.” Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, even tweeted in Spanish that English should be the country’s “idioma oficial.”
Conversely, immigrant-rights advocates and Democratic members of Congress cautioned that the order could estrange immigrants and complicate access to government services for non-English speakers, such as completing health care forms or voting. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus labeled it a “thinly veiled attempt to enable federal agencies to discriminate against immigrants.”
Critics have drawn parallels between Mr. Trump’s order and the historical suppression of Native languages in Indian boarding schools, restrictions on the German language during World War I, and state-level initiatives to ban bilingual education.
Legal experts believe the immediate impact of the order may be limited.
It revokes a directive from then-President Bill Clinton in 2000 that mandated government agencies and recipients of federal funds to provide translated documents and language services for those with limited English proficiency.
However, unlike some state laws that restrict English-only provisions, Mr. Trump’s order does not obligate agencies to operate exclusively in English; they can still provide documents and services in other languages.
“It’s not nearly as punitive as it could be,” noted Mary Carol Combs, an education professor at the University of Arizona.
Experts assert that early American history is replete with instances of bilingual governance. In the 19th century, Midwestern states translated laws and gubernatorial messages into Norwegian, German, and Welsh. California’s 1849 Constitution mandated that laws and decrees be published in both English and Spanish.
“Diverse linguistic populations have always existed,” remarked Christina Mulligan, a professor at Brooklyn Law School who has discussed the translated Constitutions.
The modern English-only movement was invigorated by a wave of immigrants from Asia and Latin America in the latter half of the 20th century. Over 30 states have now declared English as their official language, including the heavily Democratic state of California.
Mr. Trump capitalized on the subject of language as a core aspect of American identity during his initial presidential campaign. He remarked to Jeb Bush, the bilingual former governor of Florida, “This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish.” During his recent campaign, he criticized American classrooms for being saturated with students “from countries where they don’t even know what the language is.”
His executive order stated that establishing English as the official language would facilitate communication, “reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society.”
The order elicited mixed reactions from voters in Arizona, a state with a substantial Mexican American electorate that supported Mr. Trump in 2016, shifted to Democrats four years later, and then swung back in 2024. This state also grapples with language issues in classrooms, highlighted by the Republican state school superintendent’s unsuccessful lawsuit against several schools over their dual-language programs.
David Ramos, 36, an aerospace industry professional in the Phoenix area, assumed that English was already recognized as the country’s official language. He grew up listening to his Puerto Rican father speak Spanish and expressed regret for not learning the language himself.
Mr. Ramos, who voted for Mr. Trump, believed that the designation would have minimal impact on his life but interpreted it as a demonstration of Mr. Trump’s determination to fulfill his campaign commitments.
“I prefer a leader who is assertive and advocates for us, even if I don’t always fully agree with him, rather than someone who’s passive,” he stated.
Conversely, Jorge Marquez, 39, experienced conflicting feelings. After years in construction, he established English 4 U, a training center in Phoenix where he instructs immigrants on irregular English verbs and how to place an order at McDonald’s. Like Mr. Trump, he desires for more individuals to learn English.
Yet, as a Friday evening class concluded, he and his students expressed concern. They view learning English as a means of opening doors to better job opportunities and enhancing communication with health care providers, supervisors, and their children’s educators. However, they feared that Mr. Trump’s decree might stigmatize speakers of other languages or those who have accents and are still mastering English.
“He’s not incorrect,” Mr. Marquez reflected about Mr. Trump. “English is a beautiful language, but it should be taught with care and empathy.”