Former President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign a new executive order that would declare English as the official language of the United States, according to multiple White House sources.
This move would be historic, as while English is the most widely spoken language in the U.S., the country has never had an official language at the federal level.
A Controversial Shift
Trump has previously expressed concerns about non-English-speaking migrant students struggling to communicate in schools. Last year, he stated:
“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.”
His stance on language policies goes back to his first presidential campaign. During the 2016 race, Trump criticized then-Florida Governor Jeb Bush for speaking Spanish while campaigning, declaring:
“This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish.”
Repealing a Clinton-Era Mandate
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump’s executive order would rescind a federal mandate issued by former President Bill Clinton, which required government agencies to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.
While agencies would still be allowed to offer translations, the order reportedly aims to “promote unity, establish efficiency in government, and provide a pathway to civic engagement.”
A Diplomatic Meeting with Keir Starmer
The news comes after Trump’s recent meeting with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Washington on Thursday (February 27). The interaction has been widely discussed, with some labeling it “awkward.”
Body language expert Adam Lyons, speaking to UNILAD on behalf of BetUS, analyzed the encounter, describing it as a subtle battle for dominance.
“Trump pushed his hand over on the handshake to dominate and held it too long. Starmer felt it and even moved his hand to the sleeve after to ‘fix’ his clothing. Trump also did a shoulder grab to assert dominance, and Starmer attempted to counter by placing his hand on Trump’s shoulder—but wasn’t able to get the leverage.”
As Trump moves forward with his executive order, the decision is expected to spark debate across political and cultural circles.
