US President Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday (Saturday) establishing English as the official language in the US, in a bid to “promote unity” in the country.

“It is in America’s interest to designate one – and only one – official language,” the decree stressed, “honoring the long tradition of multilingual American citizens who learned English and taught it to their children,” it said. The initiative aims “to promote unity and preserve a common American culture for all citizens” of the country, it said.

The US had not established an official language until now. The executive order signed by Trump cancels one signed in 2000 by then-President Bill Clinton, which was intended to make it easier for “citizens with limited English proficiency” to access public services.

Now, federal agencies will not be required to provide services in languages other than English, but will be left to their discretion.

In the past, legislative initiatives to establish an official language in the US have been rejected by the US Congress.

Approximately 43 million people in the US speak Spanish at home, according to official demographics in 2023.