Spanish White House Website Removal Sparks Controversy

Shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Spanish-language version of the White House website was taken down, sparking criticism from Hispanic advocacy groups. Visitors to the site encountered a “404 Error” message, with a redirect to Trump’s campaign video montage. The administration stated it was working on restoring the Spanish page but provided no timeline.

Hispanic leaders expressed frustration, calling the move a signal of disregard for the Latino community, which constitutes 43.4 million Spanish speakers in the U.S. “It’s a slap in the face to Hispanic voters,” said Anthony Hernandez, a paralegal in Washington, D.C. Monica Rivera, a communications strategist, noted that the removal alienates Latinos, signaling they are “less significant” to the administration.

The removal coincided with executive orders targeting illegal immigration, including a border crackdown and deployment of troops. Critics argued the action undermined access to critical government resources for Spanish-speaking Americans and immigrants. Frankie Miranda, CEO of the Hispanic Federation, stressed the importance of including Spanish-language updates to engage the nation’s second-largest demographic group in the civic process.

This move echoed a similar action in Trump’s first term, when the Spanish page was removed but reinstated under Joe Biden in 2021. Experts, like historian Kris Klein Hernández, suggested the removal highlights which constituencies the administration prioritizes, while others, like former California official Jeff Lee, questioned why Spanish content was singled out.

Despite Trump’s growing support among young Latino men, critics argue that removing Spanish-language resources hinders trust and accessibility. Advocates are urging the administration to restore these tools to foster inclusivity and civic participation for millions of Spanish-speaking Americans.