Trump Bans Associated Press from White House and Air Force One Over ‘Gulf of Mexico’ Name Dispute
Washington, D.C. – The White House has permanently banned the Associated Press (AP) from its press briefings and from traveling on Air Force One, citing the news agency’s refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," as President Donald Trump has directed.
In a statement released via social media, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich accused AP of "ignoring the lawful geographic renaming of the Gulf of America." He claimed that while AP’s "so-called ‘right’ to irresponsible and dishonest reporting [is] protected by the First Amendment," it does not "entitle them to the privilege of unfettered access to restricted spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One."
Budowich declared that the spaces previously occupied by AP reporters would now be available to "the many thousands of reporters who have been unjustly banned from covering these historic and consequential events by the previous administration."
The ban on AP came after the news agency’s reporters were denied access to several presidential events at the White House on Tuesday. The reason for the denial was AP’s continued use of the name "Gulf of Mexico," which has been the body of water’s established name for over 400 years.
Trump issued an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" shortly after taking office in January. AP, however, has maintained that this name change is not recognized outside the United States.
In a statement, AP Executive Editor Julie Pace condemned the White House’s actions as a violation of the freedom of speech and press enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. She also criticized the move as a disservice to the "hundreds of millions of people who rely on AP for impartial news coverage."
AP is the largest news agency in the United States. Its stylebook has long been a standard reference for newsrooms and corporate offices. In a style note issued last month, AP stated that Trump’s order renaming the Gulf of Mexico "has standing only within the United States." As a global news agency that distributes news worldwide, AP said it "must ensure that place names and geography are recognizable to all audiences."
The ban on AP highlights the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the media. Trump has repeatedly attacked the press, calling it "the enemy of the people" and accusing it of being biased against him.
Press freedom advocates have condemned the ban on AP as an attack on the First Amendment. They argue that the government cannot restrict access to information based on its disagreement with the content of the reporting.
The White House ban on AP is likely to have a significant impact on the news agency’s ability to cover the Trump administration. It is unclear how AP will respond to the ban, but it is expected to continue reporting on the administration and its policies.
