at the inauguration shield of america At the summit in Miami on Saturday, March 7, President Donald Trump shared a light-hearted moment with Latin American leaders, joking that he wouldn’t bother learning Spanish, despite his desire to visit their countries.
Addressing 12 Latin American leaders gathered at his Doral golf club, Trump acknowledged the importance of cooperation with the region, but humorously added, “It’s great that we’ve had a chance to get to know many of you. I’d love to visit your countries sometime… but I’m not learning your language.”
Trump explained that although he respects his Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is fluent in Spanish due to his Cuban heritage, he did not have time to learn the language himself. Trump continued, “Marco loves going to your countries. He’s always in one of these countries. His favorite country is yours.” “She’s got a language advantage over me because I’m not going to waste time learning your language.”
The people present in the room laughed and joked at this comment made in a light tone. Trump later stressed the importance of a “good interpreter” when dealing with foreign leaders, and stressed that international relations should not be hindered by language barriers.
Following Trump’s comments, Rubio, who often uses his Spanish skills in diplomatic engagements, took the stage. In a brief address in Spanish, he quipped, “We don’t need an interpreter for this,” a comment that brought more laughter. Rubio’s bilingual abilities were also acknowledged by Trump, who jokingly asked, “Is he better at Spanish or English? I think he’s better at Spanish.”
The summit focused on strengthening regional security and enhancing cooperation in tackling issues such as drug cartels and illegal immigration through the launch of new shield of america Initiative. Led by outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the project aims to create a more secure Western Hemisphere.
Despite the cheerful exchanges, the event reinforced the serious goals behind the summit, as the Trump administration works to develop strategies that aim to address security challenges across the US.
As the summit concluded, Trump’s comments about language and diplomacy seemed to offer a glimpse of the lighter moments of international relations alongside more pressing issues of security and cooperation.