Trump administration says sign language services ‘intrude’ on Trump’s ability to control his image

The Trump administration is fighting a lawsuit that seeks to require American Sign Language interpretation at White House events, arguing such a mandate would “severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public.”

The National Association for the Deaf sued the administration in May after it discontinued ASL interpretation services that were regularly provided during the Biden administration. The lawsuit contends that without these services, “hundreds of thousands of deaf Americans” are denied “meaningful access to the White House’s real-time communications on various issues of national and international import.”

This isn’t the first time the group has taken legal action against Trump’s White House. During his first administration, they sued to secure ASL interpretation for COVID-19 pandemic briefings.

In court filings opposing a preliminary injunction, Department of Justice attorneys argued that requiring sign language interpretation would infringe upon the president’s right “to shape his Administration’s image and messaging as he sees fit.” The government’s lawyers have not elaborated on specifically how ASL interpretation might harm Trump’s public image.

The administration contends it provides alternative accessibility options, including online transcripts and closed captioning. Government attorneys also raised concerns about the practicality of arranging interpretation services for spontaneous press interactions, as opposed to formal briefings.

Additionally, the DOJ questioned whether other branches of government were being held to similar standards regarding interpretive services.

Last month, a federal judge rejected these arguments and ordered the White House to provide real-time ASL interpreting for remarks by President Trump and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. While the administration has begun offering interpretation at some events, disagreement persists about the extent of services required. The White House has appealed the ruling.

Washington, D.C., home to Gallaudet University—the world’s leading institution for deaf and hard of hearing students—likely has numerous qualified ASL interpreters available. The city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, regularly employs rotating interpreters during her public appearances, demonstrating the feasibility of such accommodations.

The legal battle over ASL interpretation aligns with broader policy shifts in the second Trump administration. During his first week back in office, Trump signed an executive order eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies. This rollback of DEI initiatives has become a defining feature of his return to the White House.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced this approach in January, declaring DEI policies “incompatible” with the Pentagon’s mission. More recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a return to Times New Roman font in diplomatic correspondence, reversing the Biden administration’s shift to Calibri font, which Rubio characterized as stemming from “misguided” DEI policies.

The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the ongoing lawsuit or clarified how ASL interpretation services might damage the president’s image.

The case highlights tension between accessibility requirements and the administration’s desire to control its messaging. As the legal battle continues, deaf and hard of hearing Americans await a resolution that will determine their level of access to important White House communications.