Judge Orders Trump White House to Restore AP Journalists Access to Presidential Venues After "Gulf of America" Dispute
A federal judge has ordered the Trump White House to reinstate the Associated Press’s access to presidential events after it was restricted for refusing to use the term “Gulf of America” in its reporting. The AP continued to refer to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico, prompting the administration to block its journalists from covering events in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and other presidential venues. Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, ruled the move was a clear violation of the First Amendment, writing, “The Constitution forbids viewpoint discrimination, even in a nonpublic forum like the Oval Office.”
The AP filed a lawsuit in February against three senior officials — Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich — arguing that the restrictions were retaliation for editorial choices. “Today’s ruling affirms the fundamental right of the press and public to speak freely without government retaliation,” said AP spokesperson Lauren Easton. The judge’s order won’t take effect until Sunday, giving the administration time to appeal, though the White House declined to comment on the decision.
While McFadden stopped short of granting the AP permanent or preferential access, he made it clear that the government cannot exclude journalists based on disagreement with their reporting. Press freedom groups and the White House Correspondents’ Association welcomed the ruling, calling it a critical defense of journalistic independence. Trump, meanwhile, dismissed the AP as “radical left lunatics” and insisted they would be barred “until such time as they agree it’s the Gulf of America.”
