The Associated Press (AP) has accused the White House of violating the First Amendment and blocking its journalists from attending press events due to a geographical name change. The AP had refused to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of the widely recognized “Gulf of Mexico,” which was ordered by President Trump in an executive order.
The AP’s executive editor, Julie Pace, wrote a letter to the White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, stating that the actions taken by the White House were intended to punish the AP for its content and constitute viewpoint discrimination. The AP had issued editorial guidance explaining that it would continue calling the body of water the Gulf of Mexico.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, maintained that the administration was within its rights to single out the AP and reserve the right to decide who gets to attend events in the Oval Office. However, First Amendment supporters and freedom of the press groups strongly objected to the move, calling it retribution and a bully tactic.
The incident has sparked a debate on the limits of government control over the media and the importance of protecting journalists’ rights. The AP is prepared to defend its constitutional rights, while the White House maintains that it is simply enforcing a change in terminology.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/business/media/associated-press-gulf-of-america.html