AP Sues Trump Officials Over Press Access Restrictions \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Associated Press (AP) has filed a lawsuit against three Trump administration officials, alleging violations of the First Amendment after the White House began blocking its journalists from events. The ban reportedly stems from AP’s refusal to adopt Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America’. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., calls the restrictions unconstitutional. Other news organizations, including Fox News and Newsmax, have expressed concern over the precedent set by the administration’s actions.
AP Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Quick Looks
- Lawsuit Filed: AP sued White House officials for restricting journalist access
- Core Issue: White House retaliated over AP’s refusal to use ‘Gulf of America’
- Key Officials Named: Susan Wiles, Taylor Budowich, and Karoline Leavitt
- Press Ban Includes: White House briefings, Mar-a-Lago events, Air Force One
- Trump’s Stance: AP is “radical left” and a “third-rate outfit”
- Support from Media: 40 news organizations back AP’s demand for restored access
- First Amendment Concern: AP argues this is government control of speech
- AP Stylebook’s Role: White House wanted AP to enforce the name change
Deep Look
The Associated Press (AP) has taken legal action against the Trump administration, filing a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., to challenge restrictions placed on its reporters’ access to White House events, Mar-a-Lago briefings, and Air Force One. The move follows the administration’s decision to bar AP journalists after the agency refused to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”
The case, which names White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, was filed 10 days after AP’s exclusion from White House press events began.
“This targeted attack on the AP’s editorial independence and ability to gather and report the news strikes at the very core of the First Amendment,” the lawsuit states, arguing that government retaliation against a news organization’s editorial decisions is unconstitutional.
Trump Administration’s Justification for the Ban
The White House press office has directly tied the AP’s exclusion to its refusal to comply with the “Gulf of America” rebranding. President Trump, speaking Tuesday, made his stance clear:
“We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America.”
The administration also pointed to the AP Stylebook, an influential guide used by journalists, academics, and students, arguing that it should reflect the new designation for American audiences.
In an email to the AP, Chief of Staff Susan Wiles emphasized that the administration believes the Stylebook has been weaponized to promote a partisan agenda. The lawsuit also references comments from Taylor Budowich, who, in an interview with Axios, accused AP of editorial bias on racial terminology, gender-affirming care, and immigration language.
Wider Media Reaction: Support and Concern
The ban has sparked concern across media organizations, with around 40 news outlets signing a letter urging the Trump administration to reverse its policy. Signatories include both conservative-leaning (Fox News, Newsmax) and mainstream (The New York Times, The Washington Post) organizations.
Newsmax, which often supports Trump, issued a cautious statement, acknowledging the president’s frustration with media bias but warning that banning AP sets a dangerous precedent:
“We fear a future administration may not like something Newsmax writes and seek to ban us.”
Fox News, meanwhile, has adopted the ‘Gulf of America’ terminology, while The New York Times and The Washington Post continue to use ‘Gulf of Mexico’.
Trump Slams AP as “Radical Left”
Speaking to Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, Trump lashed out at the AP, calling the agency “radical left lunatics” and dismissing it as a “third-rate outfit with a first-rate name.”
“Just about everybody accepts the Gulf of America name change, but AP wants to be cute,” Trump said.
Despite the president’s remarks, Google Maps has updated its U.S. version to reflect the Gulf of America renaming, further fueling the controversy over whether news organizations should follow suit.
Legal and Constitutional Implications
The AP’s lawsuit hinges on the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from suppressing the press or controlling speech. The agency argues that the White House’s demand that it adopt the new terminology amounts to government overreach.
“The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government,” AP’s legal filing asserts.
Ongoing Access Restrictions for AP
While AP journalists are still permitted on White House grounds, they have been excluded from the White House press pool, a group of reporters who provide coverage from smaller, restricted spaces and share information with other outlets. AP has been part of the White House press pool for over a century, making the exclusion highly unusual.
The lawsuit also reveals that AP’s senior vice president and executive editor, Julie Pace, traveled to Florida this week in an attempt to negotiate with White House officials, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
The AP Stylebook: A Sticking Point in the Dispute
The AP Stylebook has become central to the legal battle. The White House press office demanded that the influential guide reflect the “Gulf of America” name change, arguing that American audiences should use the president’s terminology.
AP has resisted, stating that while journalists should note Trump’s executive order, they will continue to use ‘Gulf of Mexico’ in their reporting.
Ironically, AP did update its Stylebook to recognize Trump’s earlier executive order renaming Denali back to Mount McKinley, citing that the mountain is entirely within the U.S.. However, AP maintains that the Gulf of Mexico is an internationally recognized body of water, making it inappropriate to impose a unilateral renaming.
What Comes Next?
With the legal battle now in federal court, the Biden-appointed Justice Department attorneys will face off against Trump’s legal team in a case that could have major implications for press freedoms.
If the court rules in favor of the AP, it could set a legal precedent preventing future administrations from restricting media access based on editorial decisions. However, if the ruling favors the Trump administration, it could reshape how government officials interact with the press.
For now, the Associated Press and the White House remain at a standoff, and the case will test the boundaries of free speech, press independence, and executive power.
AP Sues Trump AP Sues Trump AP Sues Trump
You must Register or Login to post a comment.