In San Juan, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares publicly called for recognizing Spanish as one of the United States’ own languages. His remarks at the Universidad Internacional de Puerto Rico came amid an intensifying debate over Spanish’s role following Donald Trump’s harsh criticism of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance, which he called “absolutely terrible” and “an insult to American values” because the songs were performed exclusively in Spanish.
Albares stressed that he would support politicians and civil society groups advocating for the official recognition of Spanish in the US. He also noted that Spanish has been an integral part of American identity since the country’s founding, and promised to strengthen cultural and public diplomacy to promote Spanish-language heritage.
Diplomatic Background
Albares’s visit coincided with the 250th anniversary of US independence, but relations between Madrid and Washington remain tense. The disagreements stem from US and Israeli military actions against Iran and Spain’s refusal to support these operations. As a result, a possible visit by the Spanish monarchs to the US was postponed. Asked about Spain’s role in the anniversary events, Albares replied that the program depends on decisions by US authorities and that the Spanish embassy is ready to cooperate.
During the visit, the minister met with Puerto Rico Governor Jennifer González Colón and Commissioner Pablo José Hernández, who represents the island in the US Congress. Topics discussed included Puerto Rico’s participation in Fitur as the main partner, the development of air connections with Spain, and attracting investment.
Language issue and US response
According to Álvarez, there are 68 million Spanish speakers in the US, making up one fifth of the country’s population. The US is the second largest Spanish-speaking country after Mexico. Nevertheless, after returning to the White House, the Trump administration removed the Spanish version of the official website and in 2025 signed an order establishing English as the only official language.
In Puerto Rico, Spanish remains dominant: 95% of families speak it, and the island was recognized with the Cervantes Prize for preserving linguistic identity. Álvarez also highlighted the success of Bad Bunny and Rosalía as symbols of the growing influence of Spanish around the world, and noted that for the first time, a Spanish-language Bad Bunny album received the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Spain’s position and local support
In contrast to criticism from Washington directed at Pedro Sánchez’s government, Álvarez was met with approval in Puerto Rico. Julio Fontanet, dean of the law faculty, called Spain’s stance on the Palestinian issue an example of courage. The minister himself chose not to expand on this topic, stating only that the Spanish language is a tool for peace and mutual understanding in times of conflict.
According to Albares, Spain’s relationship with Puerto Rico opens unique opportunities for dialogue with the United States. Before departing for the Dominican Republic, the minister inaugurated a business forum in San Juan where prospects for economic cooperation were discussed.
The topic of language policy and diplomatic disagreements between Spain and the United States has already been raised in other articles. For example, experts recently discussed how criticism from Washington is affecting Madrid’s defense strategy and the country’s role in NATO — more details in the article on pressure on Spanish defense and new threats.
