President Donald Trump has officially designated English as the primary language of the United States, aiming to foster unity in the diverse nation.
The announcement came through an executive order issued on Saturday, where Trump emphasized that adopting English as the national language would strengthen social cohesion.
“It is long past time for English to be recognised as the core language of our unified society,” the order stated.
The directive overturns a 1990s mandate under former President Bill Clinton, which required federal agencies to provide assistance to non-English speakers.
However, the new order grants agencies the discretion to determine the level of support they offer in other languages.
“Agency heads are empowered to decide how best to serve the American people while fulfilling their missions,” the document added.
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While acknowledging the country’s multilingual landscape, the White House underscored that English has been the dominant language since the nation’s founding, with key documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution written in English.
According to 2019 government data, nearly 68 million people in the US speak languages other than English at home, with Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese among the most common.
The move is part of Trump’s broader efforts to reshape national policies through executive orders, many of which have faced legal challenges.