During the 'Shield of the Americas' Summit, President Donald Trump humorously addressed 12 Latin American leaders, declaring he lacks the time to pick up Spanish.
Trump acknowledged that Marco Rubio, whose family hails from Cuba, has a linguistic edge over him.
"He speaks Spanish, I don't. It's too late for me to learn your damn language. I simply don't have the time!" he remarked, eliciting laughter from those present.
He further commented, "Languages are fine, but I'm not going to invest that much time in learning yours."
The Republican leader expressed his preference for relying on "a good interpreter."
Trump recounted an incident where, during a conversation with an undisclosed president, he noticed an interpreter's mistake despite not comprehending the language.
He emphasized that having a competent translator is crucial, whether in dealings with Chinese President Xi Jinping or Russian President Vladimir Putin.
These statements were made at an event in Miami, Florida, a city known for its significant immigrant population, particularly from Cuba.
Following this, Marco Rubio addressed the crowd in Spanish, leading Trump to jest that his Secretary of State is "better in Spanish" than in English.
Subsequently, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth took the stage, humorously declaring that he only speaks "American."
Key Takeaways from Trump's Remarks on Language and Diplomacy
Why did Trump joke about not learning Spanish?
Trump humorously remarked that he doesn't have time to learn Spanish during a summit with Latin American leaders, emphasizing his reliance on interpreters.
What was Trump's point about interpreters?
Trump highlighted the importance of having competent interpreters in diplomatic negotiations, sharing an anecdote where he noticed an interpreter's error.