The Associated Press (AP) has filed a lawsuit against three senior White House officials after being barred indefinitely from attending press events in the Oval Office and traveling aboard Air Force One with President Donald Trump. The decision to block AP’s access reportedly stems from the news agency’s refusal to adopt the Trump administration’s preferred terminology for the Gulf of Mexico.
The dispute began when President Trump ordered that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the "Gulf of America." While several major tech companies, including Apple and Google, complied with the change, AP continued to use the traditional name. The agency justified its decision by stating that the Gulf extends beyond U.S. territorial waters and that, as an international news provider, it must adhere to globally recognized geographical terms.
In the days following AP’s decision, the White House began excluding its reporters from official events. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, AP is now "facing the consequences for its lies about the Gulf of America."
AP has now taken the matter to court, filing a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C. against White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
In its legal filing, AP argues that the ban violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and press freedom. The lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of attempting to control speech by punishing media outlets that refuse to comply with government-mandated language changes.
The White House has dismissed the lawsuit, with a spokesperson stating
This latest conflict highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the press. While previous administrations have had contentious relationships with media outlets, a lawsuit of this nature raises broader concerns about government interference in journalistic independence.
As the legal battle unfolds, the case could set a major precedent for the limits of executive power over press access and the freedom of the media in the United States.