Publisher: Bouncer News
Author: Abdul Jabbar
The Trump administration announced on Friday that The Associated Press (AP) has been indefinitely barred from the Oval Office and Air Force One. This decision comes after the White House took issue with the news agency’s continued use of the term “Gulf of Mexico” instead of the newly designated name “Gulf of America.”
President Donald Trump had declared last month that the U.S. government would officially rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” While the change has been implemented across government agencies, international bodies and many media organizations have refused to adopt the new terminology. The AP, citing its global readership, has continued using the original name while acknowledging Trump’s directive.
While other major news organizations have similarly opted to maintain the established name, the White House has specifically targeted the AP, barring its reporters from attending presidential events. However, AP photographers have still been permitted access.
Before Trump’s departure for Mar-a-Lago on Friday, the administration confirmed that AP journalists would not be allowed to board Air Force One. The move drew criticism from press freedom advocates, who argue that the ban limits public access to critical White House coverage.
In a statement on X, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich defended the decision, stating that the AP’s refusal to use the new name “is not just divisive but also exposes the Associated Press’ commitment to misinformation.”
“While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not guarantee them privileged access to spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One,” Budowich added. “Moving forward, those spaces will be made available to the thousands of other journalists who have been previously restricted.”
Despite the ban, AP reporters retain their White House press credentials. However, their exclusion from “pooled” events, such as Air Force One flights, presents significant challenges for covering the administration. The AP is a key player in the White House press pool, a system that ensures presidential events are covered and information is shared among media outlets.
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) condemned the decision, calling it a direct violation of press freedom. “This is a blatant attack on the First Amendment and the principles of a free press,” the WHCA stated. “It is also in contradiction to the president’s own executive order on protecting free speech and preventing government censorship.”
Legal experts believe the AP may pursue legal action against the White House over what is being described as an act of viewpoint discrimination. An anonymous AP staffer remarked, “This is as clear-cut a case as you can find.”
As of now, the AP has not publicly commented on the ban, but the ongoing dispute raises broader concerns about press freedom and the relationship between the media and the government.