A few hours after President Donald Trump's inauguration, the administration made the decision to take down the Spanish version of the official White House website, which generated confusion and criticism, especially from the Latino community in the United States. The page, which previously functioned as an important communication channel for millions of Hispanic speakers, began to display an "Error 404" message, redirecting users to content related to the Trump campaign. This decision, along with the deactivation of the White House's Spanish-language profile on the social network X and other government pages focused on reproductive freedom, raised concerns about the government's commitment to maintaining an accessible and inclusive dialogue with the country's second-largest ethnic community, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Hispanic rights groups and communications experts interpreted the gesture as a sign of exclusion and marginalization. Monica Rivera, a communications strategist of Puerto Rican and Cuban origin, said the removal of the Spanish-language page sends a clear message about who the government prioritizes, reinforcing a sense of exclusion among Latinos. Anthony Hernandez, a paralegal, called the move a reflection of what could be a second Trump term, where seemingly minor but damaging actions would be implemented without much visibility. For many, such as Frankie Miranda, president of the Hispanic Federation, the deletion of the page contradicts the need for inclusive civic engagement, since Spanish is the preferred language of millions of citizens and residents in the country, the article reported.

Although the government said, through deputy press Secretary Harrison Fields, that the Spanish version of the site would be reinstated soon, this explanation was considered insufficient by Hispanic leaders and critics. They questioned the logic of disabling a crucial communication tool at a time when inclusion should be prioritized. It is worth remembering that, during Trump's presidency in 2017, the same page was removed with promises of return, but was only reinstated in Joe Biden's administration in 2021.

The removal of the page coincided with a series of executive orders from Trump's first day, including strict measures against illegal immigration. Among the actions, Trump declared a national emergency on the border with Mexico, announced the deployment of troops to assist immigration agents and tightened restrictions on refugees and asylum seekers. These initiatives reinforce the hardline stance that marked his campaign and his previous term, but also generated fears among immigrant rights advocates about the impact on the most vulnerable communities.

Based on 2023 estimates, about 43.4 million Americans, or 13.7% of the population over the age of five, speak Spanish at home. Despite this, the U.S. does not have an official language, which makes access to government information in multiple languages even more significant. Experts such as Jeff Le, a former adviser to the California government, have argued that the decision to disable Spanish-language content is contradictory, especially considering the need to communicate important policy changes, such as those related to the economy and border security.

Interestingly, while the measure attracts criticism, Trump has won a growing share of the Latino electorate, especially among young men. According to AP VoteCast polls, he got more support from this group in 2024 than in 2020, indicating a greater openness among young Latinos to his policies, despite actions such as the removal of the Spanish page.

The removal of the Spanish version from the White House website, therefore, symbolizes more than a technical issue. It is interpreted as a political statement that, for many, reinforces divisions and raises questions about the administration's true priority regarding inclusion and dialogue with one of the most significant communities in the United States.