Shortly after President Donald Trump took office, the Spanish-language section of the official White House website was unexpectedly removed.
Users attempting to access the website, previously located at https://www.whitehouse.gov/es/, are now met with a “Error 404” notification. The page had initially featured a key labeled “Go Home,” which redirected visitors to a video montage showcasing Trump during his initial term and on the campaign circuit; this button was updated later to say “Go To Home Page.”
This sudden change puzzled and frustrated many Hispanic advocacy groups, who viewed it as indicative of the administration’s dwindling efforts to maintain ties with the Latino community—an essential voter base that contributed to Trump’s election.
Notably, the Spanish-language social media profile of the White House on X, @LaCasaBlanca, along with government resources regarding reproductive rights, has also been removed. In contrast, other agencies that provide Spanish versions—including the Departments of Labor, Justice, and Agriculture—were still accessible as of Tuesday.
In response to inquiries about these changes, White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields stated the administration aims to restore the Spanish version of the website.
“It’s only day two. We are working on updating and editing the White House site. Some content from the archives has gone inactive, but we are committed to reinstating it soon,” he noted without providing further details.
The Spanish section was previously taken down by Trump in 2017, and although officials claimed they would restore it, it only resurfaced in 2021 under President Joe Biden.
The removal of the Spanish webpage coincided with a wave of executive orders on Trump’s first day, particularly focusing on illegal immigration, a flagship issue during his campaign. Trump also announced a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and plans to deploy troops to support immigration officers while imposing restrictions on refugees and asylum seekers.
Statistics from the 2023 Census Bureau estimate that around 43.4 million individuals, or roughly 13.7% of the U.S. population aged five and older, communicate in Spanish at home. Notably, the United States does not have an official language.
Monica Rivera, a brand strategist from New York with Puerto Rican and Cuban roots, expressed that the site’s removal communicates a significant message.
“With 43 million Latinos who speak Spanish as their primary language, cutting off direct access to White House information clearly defines who is being served. It also dangerously conveys to Trump’s MAGA supporters that we Latinos are ‘other’ and a less important part of the nation,” Rivera stated.
Anthony Hernandez, a paralegal based in Washington D.C., remarked on the implications of this action. He was initially unaware of the site’s closure and emphasized that it hints at what a potential second Trump presidency could resemble, signaling that while major issues capture attention, smaller yet equally harmful actions may pass by unnoticed.
“Shutting down the Spanish-language White House page and profile only serves to cut resources for millions of Hispanic Americans and legal immigrants,” Hernandez remarked, adding it’s an insult to the Hispanic voters who backed him in the recent election.
Marco Rubio, Trump’s Secretary of State and Cuban American, was administered in a ceremony where he expressed thanks in Spanish, acknowledging his heritage.
Hispanic leaders and communications strategists expressed their astonishment at the removal of the page, particularly given Trump’s favorable standing with some Latino electorates.
Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of the Hispanic Federation, stressed that active engagement with Latinos—America’s second-largest demographic—requires that critical updates also be available in Spanish, ensuring all members of the community feel included in the civic discourse.
Kris Klein Hernández, a historian focusing on race and gender at Connecticut College, shed light on the broader implications of such removals, stating they not only deny Spanish-speaking citizens and immigrants vital access to official information but may also prompt discourse around which groups the administration prioritizes.
Former deputy cabinet secretary Jeff Lee remarked that the decision to remove the Spanish version appears counterintuitive, particularly when considering the potential to “highlight” policy shifts relating to economic matters and border security.
“I didn’t observe other language options being similarly removed. It’s significant that it was singled out—if that holds true,” Lee added.
According to the AP VoteCast survey, which engaged over 120,000 voters nationwide, recent statistics reveal that Trump appealed to a greater proportion of Black and Latino voters in this election compared to 2020, with a notable increase among men under 45. Significantly, young Latino men appeared more receptive to Trump’s message than in previous years, as roughly half supported Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, with 60% backing Biden.
