President Trump told a room full of Latin American leaders that he was not going to learn their “damn language,” setting the tone for the “Shield of the Americas” summit held at his Doral golf course in Florida. Twelve regional heads of state were present at the meeting.
“I’m not learning your damn language,” Trump said. “I don’t have time.” He added, “I was OK with languages, but I’m not going to spend time learning your language; that much I won’t do. Just give me a good interpreter.”
According to The Daily Beast, the moment unfolded just before Marco Rubio took the stage at the summit. Rubio, who is the son of Cuban immigrants and has often highlighted his family’s background when discussing U.S.-Latin American relations, delivered his remarks in both English and Spanish.
The language remarks stand out given how widely Spanish is spoken across the United States
After Rubio finished speaking, Trump returned to the podium to introduce Pete Hegseth, asking, “Is he better in Spanish or in English?” Hegseth responded with, “Mr. President, I only speak American,” which received a muted response from the attendees.
This is worth noting given that around 14 percent of the U.S. population are native Spanish speakers. Nearly 60 million people across the country speak the language, including in New York City, where Trump was born and raised.
Trump also shared his thoughts on interpreters, complaining that a “woman” he used recently had cut down his “long, flowing, beautiful” sentences. He said, “Their language may be efficient, but it’s not that efficient.” His administration has also taken firm stances on other global matters, with Trump vowing that Iran must fully surrender before any conflict ends.
Trump is known for his lengthy speeches, which often go off-topic, touching on subjects like how Barack Obama climbs stairs, Hannibal Lecter, and the weight of his friends. His speech patterns have reportedly become more noticeable during his second term, raising some health concerns.
The “Shield of the Americas” initiative will be led by Kristi Noem, who was recently removed from her role as Department of Homeland Security secretary. Now serving as Special Envoy, Noem attended the summit alongside Corey Lewandowski.
Meanwhile, the administration has also faced legal pushback, with the Justice Department challenging judges who blocked Trump’s law firm actions in a separate controversy. Noem later said, “Now that America is secure, and our borders are secure, we want to focus on our neighbors and help our neighbors with their borders and the challenges they have.”
Published: Mar 8, 2026 05:45 pm