Trump Makes English Official US Language, Breaking 250-Year Tradition
Since March 2025, Donald Trump has made English the sole official language of the United States by executive order, ending a 250-year tradition of linguistic pluralism. Over 350 languages are spoken in the US, with Spanish spoken by nearly 50 million people. The order is seen as provocative and reactionary, especially given that Spanish could become the majority language by century's end. The debate over official language has been avoided since the 1960s due to a 'cult of liberty,' but now fragmentation—with neighborhoods where English is absent and schools teaching exclusively in Spanish—has made the issue explosive. Romuald Sciora, author of 'America 250, une histoire graphique des États-Unis,' discusses the history and implications. Some suggest the US should follow Canada's model of bilingualism (English and Spanish) to recognize demographic reality and ease tensions.
Key facts
- English became the sole official language of the US by executive order in March 2025 under Donald Trump.
- The US had no official language for 250 years, with over 350 languages spoken.
- Spanish is spoken by nearly 50 million people in the US.
- Projections suggest Spanish could become the majority language by the end of the century.
- Some states like Hawaii and New Mexico have co-official languages, but these are symbolic.
- From the 1980s, economic crises and Reagan-era neoliberalism increased inequality and community fragmentation.
- In New York, some 25-year-olds do not speak English; in Los Angeles, some schools teach exclusively in Spanish.
- Bill Clinton considered legislation in the 1990s but never enacted it.
Entities
Artists
- Cécile McLorin Salvant
Institutions
- RFI
- Iris
- Editions Point Nemo
- Le Robert
- École Arago
Locations
- United States
- Hawaii
- New Mexico
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Canada
- Paris
- France