President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order making English the official language of the United States, marking the first time in the country’s history that such a declaration will be made at the federal level.
The big picture: The decision to establish English as the official language comes as part of Trump’s broader stance on opposing illegal immigration and promoting the use of English in public life.
- The executive order is expected to nullify a federal requirement implemented by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, mandating agencies and recipients of federal funds to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.
Zoom in: Trump’s move aligns with the stance of 32 U.S. states that have already designated English as their official language, as supported by groups like ProEnglish advocating for English as the primary language.
- This initiative by Trump has reignited debates in states like Texas, where the use of Spanish in public settings has historically sparked controversy and raised questions about language preferences and cultural heritage.
- By proposing English as the official language of the U.S., Trump’s executive order reinforces his administration’s focus on curbing illegal immigration and promoting a unified language for public activities.
