Click here to support our 100th year as the nation's oldest Black collegiate newspaper!
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

The Hilltop

NEWS

Americans Express Concern Over Changes to The White House’s Website 

The Trump administration made several controversial alterations to the official White House website, leaving many concerned about how it reflects the broader shift in the administration’s ideological stance.

Error page displayed on a laptop. (Keith Golden Jr/The Hilltop)

Changes to the White House website were made almost immediately once President Donald Trump’s second administration took office. 

The most visible modification on Jan. 20 was the bold “AMERICA IS BACK” message that now dominates the homepage, accompanied by a brief quote from President Trump.

This new addition is paired with links to recently signed executive actions and Trump’s presidential statements. However, what some visitors quickly noticed were the omissions. 

For days after inauguration, users were met with a 404 Page Not Found message when attempting to access the Constitution, Bill of Rights and other government initiatives on the White House website.

Before the restoration, White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields assured the public that the changes were part of an ongoing website redesign, and the affected resources would be made accessible again soon.

“We are in the process of developing, editing and tweaking the White House website. As part of this ongoing work, some of the archived content on the website went dormant,” Fields said. 

Valeriia Popova, a professor specializing in political communications, urged those concerned to remain calm despite the website changes.

“The fact that Donald Trump’s team is redoing the website shouldn’t be surprising,” she said. “It will reflect his agenda in the coming days and weeks. Just buckle up.”

One change Popova pointed out as “a little bit more tricky” is the removal of the Spanish-language version of the website, which had been a fixture under past administrations, including Trump’s first term.

The page was removed alongside other accessibility resources and references to government Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

These changes echo promises made by Trump on the campaign trail.

Lori Torres Whitt, a member of the Executive Board of the Chicago Teachers Union emphasized the real-world impact on the Spanish-speaking community. 

“Removing the Spanish version limits accessibility,” Whitt said, emphasizing that the removal complicates the ability of many to navigate essential government services. 

According to Statista, there were roughly 57 million Spanish speakers in the United States as of 2023, many of whom are legal U.S. citizens with limited English proficiency.

The removal of accessibility features and alternative navigation tools, to accommodate language differences as well as disabilities, has, according to some observers, pointed to a push to dismantle progressive initiatives.

Among the removed pages were others that provided information on initiatives frequently attacked by Republican lawmakers, such as the removal of information on reproductive rights for women and pages reaffirming the executive branch’s commitment to protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.

However, according to the Trump administration, the removal of these pages is simply part of a greater effort to shift American politics and defend American women from “ political extremism.”

Removing resources like the reproductive rights page has sparked concern among advocacy groups.

Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson addressed the situation as one of “profound uncertainty.”

Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, vowed to challenge any harmful policies that may follow.

Copy edited by Aniyah Genama

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

You May Also Like

NEWS

President Donald Trump’s administration is introducing a new federal downsizing plan may free up real estate for private developers.

NEWS

A new bill that would reverse D.C.’s Home Rule receives backlash from local leaders in Washington, D.C.

Variety

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show performance reached record-breaking viewership and featured his latest hits, celebrity appearances and cultural statements.

CAMPUS

Howard’s Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) has reduced their funding, leaving some students to figure out how they are going to pay for...

CAMPUS

Ibram X. Kendi discusses his appointment as a history professor at Howard and founding director of the Howard Institute for Advanced Studies, following the...

MULTIMEDIA

Weekly roundups of the latest news and campus buzz, courtesy of Howard University’s collegiate newspaper, The Hilltop. New episodes every Friday.

NEWS

Linda McMahon, the nominee for secretary of education, appeared before Congress last week, facing tough questioning on controversial topics.

SPORTS

Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts led the Philadelphia Eagles to victory in Super Bowl LIX, crafting his own comeback story.

Variety

Temitope Creppy and AZA Allsop are studying Chicago drill rap’s role in mental health for Black youth, working to challenge the stigma around mental...

SPORTS

With seasoned players on the bench due to injuries, the Bison’s new talent has to make up for what the team currently lacks.

NEWS

Sankofa Video, Books and Café hopes to create more space for artistic expression by adding a second floor for film and theater services.

Variety

Shawn Martinbrough, an illustrator and writer of superhero comics, steps back into the world of children’s publishing with his new book, reflecting on Black...

CAMPUS

Founders Library should open by the end of the semester after construction delays, according to Physical Facilities Management, but students remain frustrated due to...

Variety

Models of the Mecca’s (MOTM) annual showcase celebrated HBCU modeling during Black History Month. The organization introduced its new class of models, the Immortale...

SPORTS

In a sport where Black players have been historically underrepresented, Howard’s tennis teams draw inspiration from its few trailblazers.