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

[littlemissmartypants]

Last edited Fri Dec 12, 2025, 09:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Updated 2:08 PM EST, December 12, 2025The Trump administration is arguing that requiring real-time American Sign Language interpretation of events like White House press briefings “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public,” part of a lawsuit seeking to require the White House to provide the services.

Department of Justice attorneys haven’t elaborated on how doing so might hamper the portrayal President Donald Trump seeks to present to the public. But overturning policies encompassing diversity, equity and inclusion have become a hallmark of his second administration, starting with his very first week back in the White House.

The National Association for the Deaf sued the Trump administration in May, arguing that the cessation of American Sign Language interpretation — which the Biden administration had used regularly — represented “denying hundreds of thousands of deaf Americans meaningful access to the White House’s real-time communications on various issues of national and international import.” The group also sued during Trump’s first administration, seeking ASL interpretation for briefings related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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https://apnews.com/article/american-sign-language-trump-white-house-7ac33c635cdefd22154d6eb7e47d3d55

[Ocelot II]

1. Link doesn't match the OP.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. Thank you. Fixed. ❤️

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. White House raises concerns about Trump's 'image' in lawsuit over sign language interpreters

trump hates disabled persons

Link to tweet

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/11/donald-trump-sign-language-lawsuit-00687712

The White House is making an unusual argument as it resists advocates’ push for sign language interpretation at press briefings conducted by President Donald Trump and press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Providing American sign language interpretation in press conferences “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public,” Justice Department attorneys argued in a lawsuit filed by the National Association for the Deaf.

The novel argument is just one part of the White House’s case against providing ASL interpretation, and DOJ attorneys haven’t elaborated much on the alleged intrusion. But it has raised concerns among advocates, and even the judge in the case.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali issued an order last month requiring the White House to provide real-time ASL interpretation for Trump and Leavitt’s briefings, rejecting the administration’s argument that closed captioning and transcripts give Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing sufficient access to the president’s statements.

“To the extent the defendants argue that they prefer to act free from association with accessibility for people with disabilities, their gripe is with Congress and” federal anti-discrimination laws themselves, Ali wrote.

The Trump administration immediately appealed Ali’s ruling. The White House has begun providing interpretation for more events since the court issued its injunction, although the two sides of the case have disagreed over the specifics of what’s required.