English Declared Official Language in U.S. by Trump

English Becomes Official Language in the U.S. under Trump’s Executive Order

As English has been the official language in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda for over 60 years, the United States officially recognized it as their national language on March 1, 2025. This historic move came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order granting English the status of an official language, despite its longstanding prominence in government and social affairs.

The United States leads the world with the highest number of English speakers. Of the 1.52 billion global speakers, nearly 20% (or around 300 million people) reside in the U.S. This number is five times greater than the population of English speakers in the United Kingdom (60 million) and Canada (29 million). Given that the U.S. is home to the largest number of English speakers globally, many might wonder why it took so long for the country to declare English as its official language.

The decision to officially recognize English is seen as a move to streamline communication, foster national unity, and improve efficiency in public and government matters. According to the executive order, "Making English the official language will facilitate easier communication, strengthen shared national values, and promote a more cohesive and effective society."

The Debate Over Official Language

While English is predominantly spoken in the U.S., there are over 350 other languages in use, including more than 160 spoken by Native American communities. English is spoken by around 80% of Americans, but the discussion surrounding the official status of the language has been a contentious one. There has been much debate, particularly due to the presence of nearly 68 million Americans who speak languages other than English.

Trump has been a vocal critic of the use of other languages, especially in formal settings. He has publicly criticized the prevalence of languages that are not commonly heard in the country, calling it "strange" and "bad." His critics argue that this move is aligned with his "America First" agenda, which many feel marginalizes communities that speak languages other than English.

For instance, during his first and second terms in office, the Trump administration removed Spanish-language content from the White House website, fueling further controversy. Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the U.S., with over 43 million people speaking it at home.

Trump, however, defends his decision, arguing that the founding fathers who wrote the U.S. Constitution did so in English, and this historical fact justifies making English the official language. Yet, historians point out that after English was used for these foundational documents, they were also translated into Dutch and German to accommodate the many Dutch and German speakers living in New York and Pennsylvania at the time.

Impact on Government Practices

This move threatens to undermine policies established under former President Bill Clinton’s administration, which required federal agencies receiving public funds to provide translations of official documents in languages needed by their constituents. Already, non-English-speaking Americans have faced verbal abuse in public spaces like markets, transportation hubs, and schools, simply for speaking their native languages.

There are concerns that this executive order could lead to increased discrimination and harassment, particularly against immigrants and communities who struggle with English or speak with an accent.

What Does Official Language Status Mean?

Designating a language as official means it is used for all official communications between the government and the public. It becomes the language for legislative announcements, court proceedings, executive orders, and presidential speeches. In countries that were formerly colonies, official languages often include both indigenous and colonial languages. For instance, in Tanzania and Kenya, Swahili and English are both official languages.

In the U.S., although English has long been the de facto official language, the executive order now formalizes its status for the first time. While the move does not drastically change daily operations—since English has already been widely used—it marks a significant shift in policy. For comparison, in Tanzania, cases and judgments are carried out in Swahili or English, as these are the official languages.

Why Did English Not Become Official Earlier?

For nearly 250 years after its founding, the United States had no official language. While English was the dominant language, the founders of the country did not believe it necessary to declare one language official. They wanted to ensure inclusivity for the many immigrant communities that spoke different languages. In fact, early U.S. documents were translated into Dutch and German to serve those linguistic communities.

Dissolving the need to declare an official language was part of the founders’ vision to avoid alienating those who had fought for independence. This is something that Dr. Wayne Wright, a professor at Purdue University, noted in 2018 when discussing the country’s language policies. He explained that the founders did not see the necessity of protecting or formalizing English as the nation’s sole language.

Today, over 180 countries have official languages, and many of them recognize more than one. South Africa, for example, has 11 official languages, while Rwanda recognizes four. Countries like Tanzania and Kenya use both Swahili and English as official languages. As for the U.K., the birthplace of English, there is still no official language, despite ongoing debates over whether it should follow the U.S. example.