Trump Tells Latin American Leaders 'I'm Not Learning Your Damn Language' at International Summit

The president joked that he doesn't have time to learn Spanish like Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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During his 'Shield of the Americas' summit, President Donald Trump told Latin American leaders that he's 'not learning your damn language' and doesn't plan on spending time learning Spanish like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump said he prefers to rely on interpreters when communicating with foreign leaders.

Why it matters

Trump's comments about not wanting to learn Spanish highlight his continued resistance to embracing multilingualism and cultural diversity, which some see as an obstacle to effective diplomacy and international cooperation.

The details

At the summit, Trump praised Rubio for his language skills, saying 'He's got a language advantage over me, 'cause I'm not learning your damn language. I don't have time.' Later, when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took the stage, he joked 'I only speak American.' The Shield of the Americas is a new Trump administration security initiative focused on issues like narco-terrorism and illegal migration.

  • The summit took place on March 7, 2026.
  • Trump made the comments about not learning Spanish during his remarks at the event.

The players

Donald Trump

The 79-year-old President of the United States.

Marco Rubio

The 54-year-old Secretary of State, whose parents immigrated from Cuba.

Pete Hegseth

The Defense Secretary who joked about only speaking 'American' at the summit.

Kristi Noem

The Homeland Security Secretary who will be leading the Shield of the Americas project.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not learning your damn language. I don't have time.”

— Donald Trump, President (people.com)

“I only speak American.”

— Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary (people.com)

What’s next

The Shield of the Americas initiative is a new Trump administration program that aims to address issues like narco-terrorism and illegal migration in the Western Hemisphere.

The takeaway

Trump's dismissive comments about not wanting to learn Spanish highlight his continued resistance to embracing multilingualism and cultural diversity, which some see as an obstacle to effective diplomacy and international cooperation.