US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced widespread criticism and ridicule online this week after joking that he only speaks the 'American' language. The comment was made during a speech to leaders of Latin American countries at an event held at President Donald Trump's golf club.
Hegseth's remark came after a series of jokes by Trump during the 'Americas Shield' summit, where the president, jokingly, said he is not interested in learning any other languages. According to Professor George Coronado of Northwestern University, such remarks reflect an inaccurate understanding of reality and are part of a broader attack by the Trump administration on higher education.
'Ignorance, or rather the call for ignorance, can be comfortable and powerful for those who feel fear,' Coronado stated. The goal of the summit, he explained, is to enhance military coordination between the United States and Latin American nations to combat organized crime cartels.
During his address, Trump pointed to his Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying he loves visiting Latin American countries but acknowledged that Rubio surpasses him in language skills due to his fluency in Spanish. 'I'm not going to learn your damn language, I don't have time for that,' Trump added, drawing laughter from the audience. Many considered Hegseth's use of the term 'American language' instead of 'English' to reflect a misconception about the linguistic nature of the United States.
'Nobody understands what this man is saying,' he added in a statement that sparked widespread ridicule. Professor Coronado noted that these statements were not surprising to him and that the Trump administration, even by American political standards, has been particularly explicit in expressing anti-foreigner stances and supporting white nationalist ideas.
After the minister finished speaking, Trump returned to the stage and joked, 'Do you think he speaks Spanish better than English? I think he speaks Spanish better than English.' Hegseth then took the podium and addressed Trump, saying, 'Mr. President, I only speak the American language,' which drew some laughter from the audience, though less so than following Trump's previous comments.
This joke sparked a wave of criticism and mockery on social media, especially on the X platform. Many felt that Hegseth's use of the term 'American language' instead of 'English' reflects a misunderstanding of the linguistic reality in the United States. Despite Spanish being the second most spoken language in the US, Trump, Hegseth, and some of their supporters promote the idea of English as the sole language of American identity.
Last year, Trump signed an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States, although many experts considered this step largely symbolic. Trump also expressed anger over the choice of Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny, who speaks Spanish, to perform at the halftime show of the 2026 Super Bowl, describing his performance as 'an insult to America's greatness.'
'Unfortunately, such rhetoric is capable of attracting the support of a large segment of voters in the United States,' Coronado concluded.
