'I'm Not Learning Your Damn Language': Trump Addresses Latin American Leaders at His 'Shield Of The Americas' Summit

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: MEDIAite

Mar 7th, 2026, 1:14 pm


President Donald Trump addressed the leaders of Latin American countries Saturday at his “Shield of the Americas” summit by telling them he was too busy to learn their language.

The summit, held at Trump’s Doral Golf Club, was organized to “advance strategies that stop foreign interference” in the Western hemisphere, including “criminal and narco-terrorist gangs and cartels, and illegal and mass immigration,” according to the State Department.  “I’d love to get to your countries at some point,” Trump said, continuing on about Secretary of State Marco Rubo, who is of Cuban descent. He said:

Marco loves going to your countries. He’s always at one of these countries. He likes your countries the best, you know?

“Where are you?”
“I’m in Chile.”
“Oh, good, how’s Chile doing?”
“Good.”

He likes it, he feels very comfortable — we all like him, right? He’s got a language, he’s got a language advantage over me. ‘Cause I’m not learning your damn language. I don’t have time. I was okay with languages, but I’m not going to spend time learning your language. That much I won’t do. Just give me a good interpreter. Interpreter — very important.

When Rubio spoke, he asked for the president’s permission before addressing the leaders in Spanish. “If I may, because some of these cameras cover in Spanish. You all right —” “Good, please,” Trump said. “Oh, good,” Rubio responded. “We don’t need an interpreter for this one,” he quipped. After Rubio’s remarks, Trump introduced Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who assured the president, “I only speak American.”

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/im-not-learning-your-damn-language-trump-addresses-latin-american-leaders-at-his-shield-of-the-americas-summit/

[tanyev]

1. Ah, but Pete's tattoos are polyglottal.

This is the Jerusalem cross, also known as the Crusader cross: square (unlike the more usual elongated versions of the Christian symbol), and with a smaller square cross in each of the four quadrants.

This very same cross has been in the limelight recently, emblazoned — far, far larger than King Edward VII’s version — on Pete Hegseth’s chest. Hegseth, a Fox News anchor and former member of the National Guard, is Trump’s pick for secretary of defense. It’s by no means his only tattoo. He also has a “Chi-Rho,” the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ and one of the earliest forms of a so-called Christogram (letters formed into a monogram expressing the essence of the religion). Perhaps the most contentious is the Christian expression on his bicep: “Deus Vult,” meaning “God Wills It,” believed to be a Crusader battle cry. Τhere is another cross with a sword, referencing a verse in the Gospel of Matthew reporting the following words of Jesus: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” “Yeshua,” Jesus’ name in Hebrew, can be read across his elbow. All these Christian-related symbols, words and letters are accompanied by others that draw on American history and identity: the U.S. Constitution’s famous opening phrase “We the People,” the year “1775” in Roman numerals (the year the American War of Independence started), a “Join, or Die” snake from the American Revolution (from a cartoon attributed to Benjamin Franklin, urging the then-colonies to unite), an American flag with an AR-15 rifle, a pair of crossed muskets, a circle of stars and a patch of his regiment, the 187th Infantry.

https://newlinesmag.com/essays/pete-hegseths-tattoos-and-the-crusading-obsession-of-the-far-right/

[Joinfortmill]

2. Remember this? A true American President: "Ich bin ein Berliner"

From the archives: John F. Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech on June 26, 1963

[wnylib]

19. And Jackie spoke Spanish in Latin America

and French in France.

[Roy Rolling]

23. His exact quote

“I’m not learning your language in Latin America. I will declare your continent “South America” and only the southern language can be spoken.

“I’m not speaking Latin”.

Well, maybe not an exact quote.

[wnylib]

24. He has not mastered English yet.

Not speaking Latin?

I took 2 years of Latin in high school. He never would have got through one semester.

[FakeNoose]

3. What about Brazil? Does Lil Marco speak Portuguese too?

Probably not....

[turbinetree]

4. Lets have another dog and pony show at American expense...........called Mar A Lago...........

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Not all 'Americas' are equal ... at least not in the sight of the BLOATUS. nt

[erronis]

6. trumpie speaks fluently in all languages - as a spoiled brat having temper tantrums. Parents worldwide recognizes them.

Yell, scream, stomp your little feet and pound your little hands. Wait until poppa Fred gives you a few more $$$ to cover your stupid antics.

I have to wonder if djt didn't have some kompromat on his father. Something that stopped Fred from treating the idjt as he did his older son (Mary Trump's father.) Perhaps djt learned this from Roy Cohn.

[70sEraVet]

7. Hegseth said, "I only speak American" at a summit with Latin American leaders???

Reminds me of a scene in Seven Years in Tibet:
https://m.

&pp=ygUxc2V2ZW4geWVhcnMgaW4gdGliZXQgYXJyaXZhbCBvZiBjaGluZXNlIG9mZmljaWFscw%3D%3D

[thesquanderer]

8. re: "I was okay with languages" -- from mister word salad himself. (n/t)

[OldBaldy1701E]

9. "...telling them he was too busy to learn their language."

No.

It is ignorance and arrogance.

It is a major sign of narcissism, when they expect everyone and everything to bow to their whim.

It needs to stop.

[hoosierspud]

10. He's too busy with:

Watching television, interfering in sports, golfing on the taxpayers dime, fundraising while starting an unnecessary war, and sending out late night social media posts.

[OGBuzz]

17. Remember when he said he would quit golf in order to.......

focus on being the greatest President in U.S. history?

His "giving up" golf cost the taxpayers $200 million in his 1st term, and he is already up to $110 million in his second term.

[LoisB]

11. He can barely speak his native language, no way he is capable of learning a

different one.

[William Seger]

14. I don't think he has the capacity to learn a damn thing about anything. (nt)

[LoisB]

28. I wholeheartedly agree.

[AverageOldGuy]

12. I hate to be repetitive . . .

. . . but Trump is a disgrace to the US.

[3catwoman3]

13. My alliterative string of adjectives for this boor -

...crude, common, crass, coarse, churlish and cruel.

And my neologism - crass hole

[OGBuzz]

15. they all trip over each other to get a taste of Trump's ass.

[Cha]

16. Traitor is Too Stupid to Learn Anything!

[twodogsbarking]

18. Jesus spoke English so should everyone. Wait for it.

[IcyPeas]

20. Melania can translate.... right?

[twodogsbarking]

21. I wish I knew Spanish.

[kimbutgar]

22. He is sounding more insane as the days goes by!

God help us!

[DrMJG10]

25. Question

Does his new rep to the Shield of the Americas, Kristi (puppy killer) Noem speak their damn language? The Tangerine Twit® comes up with a new reason to despise him every f****ng day!!!

[MorbidButterflyTat]

26. It's so lame of the media

to just normalize anything Piggy says or does.

Oh, the 'Shield Of The Americas,' and the "Board of Peace," FFS!!! They're just made up bullshit for him to grift from, like his charities, and renting his stupid ugly name, his university, his wine, his steak, etc., etc.

Jeez!!

[Walleye]

27. No cajones. Bet he can translate that