The Associated Press (AP) has filed a lawsuit against three officials from the Trump administration, arguing that its journalists were unfairly blocked from covering presidential events. The lawsuit, submitted in a federal court in Washington, D.C., claims that the White House violated the First Amendment by restricting AP’s access after the news agency refused to change its reporting style.
The dispute began when former President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” The AP chose to continue using the traditional name, which led to retaliation from the administration. As a result, AP journalists were denied entry to White House events, barred from traveling on Air Force One, and excluded from Mar-a-Lago gatherings.
Trump directly addressed the issue, stating, “We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America.” This decision sparked outrage among journalists and free speech advocates. In response, about 40 news organizations signed a letter urging the White House to reverse its stance and restore AP’s access.
The situation escalated on February 9 when an AP reporter was prevented from attending an Oval Office event. Two days earlier, Trump had declared February 9 as “Gulf of America Day” to reinforce his executive order. When the AP refused to comply with the name change, the administration followed through on its threats and blocked the journalist from entering.
Julie Pace, the AP’s executive editor, strongly criticized the White House’s actions, stating, “It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism. Limiting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP’s speech not only severely impedes the public’s access to independent news, but it also plainly violates the First Amendment.”
The Trump administration did not immediately respond to these allegations. However, the administration had previously removed other news organizations from Pentagon office spaces, showing a pattern of restricting press access.
Trump had announced his intent to rename the Gulf of Mexico before his inauguration, but many, including Mexico’s president, dismissed the change as impractical. The AP explained that its decision to maintain the original name was based on journalistic standards, ensuring that place names remain consistent and easily recognizable worldwide.
As a globally respected news agency, AP’s style guide is widely used by journalists and publications around the world. The lawsuit aims to protect journalistic independence and uphold the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.
