Trump Administration Excludes AP Reporters Over Refusal to Adopt Official Language on Gulf of Mexico
Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump has excluded two reporters from the Associated Press (AP) from covering White House events, according to the news agency.
One reporter was denied entry to the White House on Tuesday afternoon, while another was barred from attending an evening function. The exclusion was allegedly due to AP’s refusal to adhere to the Trump administration’s preferred language, which refers to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."
"It is alarming that the Trump administration is punishing AP for its independent journalism," said Julie Pace, AP’s executive editor, in a statement. "Restricting our access to the Oval Office on the basis of AP Stylebook guidance not only severely undermines the public’s access to independent news, but it also plainly violates the First Amendment."
The White House Correspondents’ Association condemned the move, stating that "the White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news and should not retaliate against individual journalists because of decisions made by their news organizations." The association expressed solidarity with AP and called on the administration to reverse its action.
Trump unilaterally renamed the Gulf of Mexico shortly after taking office, fulfilling a campaign promise. While such a change is possible under U.S. law without the consent of bordering states, other nations, the United Nations, and other international organizations are not bound by Trump’s directive.
Despite the exclusion of AP reporters, Google and Apple have announced plans to adopt the new name in their mapping applications. Apple will initially only display the name "Gulf of America" to U.S.-based users, with plans to expand the change to other regions. Google Maps will show both names to users outside the U.S., but will use "Gulf of America" exclusively within the country.
Trump has had a contentious relationship with media organizations and individual journalists throughout his presidency. During his first term, he revoked the press credentials of CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta after the reporter asked several critical questions during a press conference.
Additional Background
- The Gulf of Mexico, located between the United States and Mexico, was first named by Spanish explorers in the 16th century.
- The AP Stylebook is a widely used guide to style and grammar for journalists. It recommends using "Gulf of Mexico" as the name for the body of water.
- The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of speech and the press.
- The White House Correspondents’ Association represents more than 500 journalists who cover the White House and the presidency.
