The Associated Press (AP) has filed a lawsuit against three key members of President Donald Trump’s administration after the president revoked the outlet’s access to certain White House spaces, including the Oval Office and Air Force One. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, claims the administration’s actions are a violation of the First and Fifth Amendments, arguing that Trump’s decision to bar the AP from key press areas is retaliatory and unconstitutional.
The dispute began when President Trump issued an executive order mandating that the body of water previously known as the Gulf of Mexico be renamed to the “Gulf of America.” Trump’s administration asserted that the AP, as well as other media outlets, must adhere to this new designation in their reporting.
The AP has been a vocal opponent of the rebranding, maintaining that the long-established name “Gulf of Mexico” should remain in use, particularly as it remains widely recognized by global audiences and geographical institutions.
When the AP refused to comply with the directive, the president responded by blocking the outlet from coverage areas typically open to all accredited members of the White House press pool, including the Oval Office and Air Force One. The AP is seeking an injunction to compel the administration to reverse the decision, arguing that the exclusion violates its constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection.
In the lawsuit, the AP requested the court to “immediately cease its retaliatory actions” and restore the outlet’s access to these important areas, which are considered key for comprehensive journalistic coverage of the president’s activities. The AP claims that its access to these spaces is essential for fulfilling its responsibility to the public and providing accurate, independent reporting.
Trump defended his stance during a press conference, telling reporters, “We’re going to keep them out until…they agree that it’s the Gulf of America.” His administration has also argued that the AP’s style guide — widely used by journalists across the country — exerts significant influence over public perceptions of place names, which is why the White House felt compelled to take action.
In an email to the AP, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles explained the administration’s rationale, writing that the AP’s refusal to follow the name change was problematic due to the influence of its editorial decisions. Wiles added that the AP’s style guide “is used by many as a standard for writing and editing” and expressed hope that the outlet would eventually update its usage to reflect the new official name of the body of water.
Trump’s executive order to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico was signed shortly after he resumed office, following through on a campaign promise to enhance American sovereignty and control over geographical references tied to the U.S. The decision was met with mixed reactions; some hailed it as a bold move in line with Trump’s “America First” policy, while others saw it as an unnecessary and potentially divisive gesture.
Notably, both major mapping platforms, Google and Apple, have already taken steps to implement the name change. Google, in particular, updated its Google Maps app to reflect “Gulf of America” for U.S. users, stating that it adheres to official government naming standards. Users outside the U.S. still see the dual-name reference, displaying both “Gulf of Mexico” and “Gulf of America” for clarity.
The Trump administration has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit.
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So if AP is petty, I guess that makes Fox petty too, eh?
I would expect that Oval Office and Air Force One are the two places where the government can regulate who gets in.
AP still has access to press room and can attend daily briefigs.
There is no right for journalists to get free travel or accompany the president. Journalists do not ride in his limousine, so why should his plane be different?
The idea that journalists are entitled to fly with the president is a creation of media outlets and their inflated sense of self. Journalists can just as easily fly commercial to reach West Palm Beach, Riyadh, or New Delhi.
If Trump really wants to advance America’s place in the world and enhance national interests, he will politely oust all journalists from Air Force One and offer their seats instead to America’s business leaders and CEOs. Complaints about favoritism ring hollow.
Tying presidents and business leaders make sense. Journalists today report news less than seek to interpret and spin it but accessibility lessens their importance as any American can go online and access presidential speeches and full press conferences.
Make Air Force One Great Again?
If Trump truly wants to make America great again, he will kick the press off Air Force One, not for silly reasons or loyalty tests as he does with the Associates Press, but rather to recalibrate values to prioritize permanent business ties above the political vanity that has guided Air Force One press passes since the past 60 years.
The AP is not restricted from exercising its first amendment rights. They can publish regardless of direct access. I’m sure there are multitudes of press outlets without the same access AP claims is needed.
Freedom of speech means the government can’t limit what you say.
Freedom of the press means the government can’t limit what you publish.
NEITHER have anything to do with who is allowed into any given location or event.
Note: At the time the 1st amendment was written, the idea of a media company was not widely understood.
here we go again all the democrats no how to do is spend & sue,
What’s the big deal? So, when writing about The Gulf of America, simply add, “Formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico”, like has been done with X, formerly known as Twitter.
AP rather famously does not allow comments on its web site. Apparently they don’t believe in freedom of speech.