Trump administration ditches Calibri for Times New Roman in diplomatic documents
The Trump administration has reversed a policy on font usage in official US diplomatic documents. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that American diplomats must now use Times New Roman instead of Calibri. The change overturns a decision made under the previous Biden administration.
In 2023, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken switched the standard font from Times New Roman to Calibri. The move aimed to improve readability for people with visual or reading disabilities. The Biden administration described it as a step toward greater accessibility in official communications.
The Trump administration has now scrapped this policy. Rubio called the use of Calibri a wasteful diversity-related change. He argued that Times New Roman restores dignity, formality, and professionalism to US diplomacy.
Critics have pointed out that the original switch was not about political symbolism but practical accessibility. Studies have shown that sans-serif fonts like Calibri are often easier to read for those with dyslexia or low vision. Meanwhile, Times New Roman has long been favoured by conservative groups, according to research on the politics of typefaces.
The administration has not proposed using other American-designed fonts, such as Trump Mediaeval, Comic Sans, or Wingdings. Instead, the focus remains on returning to the traditional serif font.
The font change is part of a broader shift in diplomatic procedures under the Trump administration. Alongside this, new rules require US visitors to submit five years of social media history, emails, phone numbers, and addresses for entry. The policy reversals mark a clear departure from the previous administration’s approach to accessibility and security.
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