After Spanish National Anthem Debacle, Lawmakers Move To Keep ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ In English

Senator Markwayne Mullin and Congresswoman Stephanie Bice introduced a joint resolution declaring that “The Star-Spangled Banner” only be sung in English, The Daily Wire can exclusively report.

The Oklahoma Republicans are introducing the resolution weeks after 30-year-old recording artist Nezza — full name Vanessa Hernandez — performed the national anthem in Spanish at a Los Angeles Dodgers game to protest ICE raids in Los Angeles.

“Para mi gente [for my people]; I stand with you,” Hernandez wrote in the caption of a video of her performance. The performer noted that she chose to sing the anthem in Spanish even after the Dodgers organization specifically requested that she sing it in English.

Singer Nezza was told by the Dodgers to sing the National Anthem in English but she sang it in Spanish to protest ICE.

She then gets very emotional and cries over ICE deporting criminals who are in our country illegally. pic.twitter.com/1sTDbXx3aT

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 15, 2025

Now, Mullin and Bice are leading an effort calling for “The Star-Spangled Banner” to only be performed in English, preserving the original version of the anthem as it was written by Francis Scott Key during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.

“The Star-Spangled Banner is a sacred and unifying tradition that honors our country’s unbreakable spirit,” Mullin told The Daily Wire. “As our national anthem, it should always be performed as it was originally intended and written, in English.”

The joint resolution has also garnered the support of Republican Reps. Mike Rogers (AL), Randy Feenstra (Iowa), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa), and Buddy Carter (GA).

“A no-name singer chose to make a political statement when signing the National Anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium,” Bice charged. “The United States is a nation built on shared values, and ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ is a symbol of our unity and resilience. It should never be used for political theater or sung in Spanish.”

“Preserving the original English lyrics in public performances honors the historical context and intent of the anthem as a representation of the Nation’s values and Identity,” the resolution states. “Any public rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ should be performed as written by Francis Scott Key, in the English language, to preserve its historical and cultural integrity,” it goes on to say.

The resolution comes months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order naming English the official language of the United States.

“From the founding of our Republic, English has been used as our national language. Our Nation’s historic governing documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, have all been written in English,” the Trump White House affirmed in the executive order. “It is therefore long past time that English is declared as the official language of the United States.”

“A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society,” the order added.