AP Battles White House Ban Over Gulf Naming Dispute \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Associated Press returns to court Thursday to challenge the Trump administration’s ban on its access to presidential events, imposed after AP refused to adopt Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico. The AP argues the move violates First Amendment protections. A federal judge previously warned the White House to reconsider the ban.
AP Battles White House Ban Over Gulf Naming Dispute: Quick Looks
- AP denied Oval Office and Air Force One access
- Dispute began after AP refused to call it “Gulf of America”
- Trump issued executive order to rename Gulf of Mexico
- AP says White House retaliation violates First Amendment
- Judge McFadden previously called ban “viewpoint discrimination”
- AP still allowed in press briefings, but photo access restricted
- WHCA urges journalists to support AP at Thursday’s hearing
- White House says it controls who questions the president
- Case part of broader Trump administration crackdown on press
- AP accepted Trump’s renaming of Denali to Mount McKinley
Deep Look
Associated Press Challenges Trump Administration in Court Over Retaliatory Press Ban and First Amendment Concerns
The Associated Press (AP) is returning to a federal courtroom on Thursday to seek the restoration of its full access to presidential events after being barred by the White House in what the AP says is political retaliation. At the heart of the controversy is the Trump administration’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”—a move the AP refused to adopt in its reporting.
According to the AP, the White House responded by restricting its journalists from covering events in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One, hindering one of the world’s most prominent news organizations from documenting the presidency.
Now, with legal support and backing from press freedom advocates, the AP is fighting back, calling the move a clear violation of the First Amendment.
A Ban Over Language, or Something Bigger?
President Trump’s demand that the Gulf of Mexico be referred to as the “Gulf of America” drew widespread media attention, but the AP refused to comply, stating it would continue using the historically recognized name in line with global editorial standards. Though AP acknowledged Trump’s authority to rename places within U.S. territory—such as Denali being renamed Mount McKinley—executive editor Julie Pace clarified the distinction.
“For anyone who thinks the Associated Press’s lawsuit against President Trump’s White House is about the name of a body of water, think bigger,” Pace wrote in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal. “It’s really about whether the government can control what you say.”
Court Battle Highlights Constitutional Stakes
At a previous hearing, U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden declined to issue a temporary injunction but criticized the White House’s position.
“It seems pretty clearly viewpoint discrimination,” McFadden told the administration’s lawyer, urging officials to reconsider before Thursday’s return to court.
So far, the administration has refused to lift the ban, despite McFadden’s caution. The AP remains locked out of key presidential photo ops and in-person coverage—though still permitted to attend press briefings by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Free Speech, Retaliation, and the Role of the Press
The AP has framed the lawsuit as part of a broader defense of free speech rights, accusing the White House of punishing the outlet for maintaining editorial independence.
“President Trump is trying to control language—and by extension, truth—through executive power,” Pace said.
The case underscores rising tensions between the second Trump administration and the press, which have grown since Trump returned to office. The administration has launched FCC investigations into major news networks, shut down Voice of America, and threatened to strip funding from public broadcasters NPR and PBS.
Solidarity From the Press Corps
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has urged fellow journalists to show solidarity with the AP at Thursday’s hearing. Suggestions include attending the court session or wearing pins that symbolize the First Amendment and press freedom.
The WHCA’s message: this isn’t just about one outlet—it’s about the right of all journalists to cover the government without political interference.
Trump’s Media War Expands
In addition to barring the AP, Trump has escalated tensions with other media outlets, including blocking The Associated Press from press pool events and lambasting them as “radical left lunatics.” He has also blasted The Atlantic for publishing leaked military planning messages and is increasingly targeting outlets that refuse to adopt his framing or language.
Trump’s administration argues that it has the right to control press access to the president. But constitutional scholars warn that access decisions based on content or viewpoint likely violate free speech protections under the First Amendment.
What Comes Next
Even if Judge McFadden rules in the AP’s favor, it remains unclear whether the White House will comply. The AP alleges that the ban has slowed reporting efforts and particularly affected its ability to capture and distribute still images from presidential events—an essential part of visual journalism.
Julie Pace noted that the AP had sought a resolution before taking legal action but ultimately had no choice.
“If we don’t step up to defend Americans’ right to speak freely, who will?” she wrote.
The outcome of this case could set a new precedent for the boundaries of executive power over the press—and shape how journalism is conducted in Washington during the Trump administration’s second term.
AP Battles White
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