WHCA Condemns White House for Blocking AP Reporter Over ‘Gulf of Mexico’ Reference

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) has condemned the Trump administration for barring an Associated Press (AP) reporter from a presidential event over the news agency’s refusal to adopt the term “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico”.

The White House on Tuesday denied access to an AP journalist at an Oval Office event with President Donald Trump, following the news agency’s decision to continue referring to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico despite Trump’s recent executive order to rename it.

📢 “The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors' decisions,” said WHCA President Eugene Daniels in a statement on X.

Daniels called the move “unacceptable”, warning that press freedom should not be compromised based on editorial decisions.

AP Responds to White House Ban

AP Executive Editor Julie Pace said the White House made it clear that the reporter would only be allowed access if the agency complied with Trump’s order.

📢 "It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism," Pace said, calling the action a violation of the First Amendment.

The AP Stylebook states that the Gulf of Mexico has held its name for over 400 years, and the agency will continue to use it while acknowledging Trump’s renaming decision.

White House, Mexico Yet to Respond

The White House has not commented on the WHCA and AP’s statements. Mexico’s foreign ministry also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum previously joked in January that if Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico, North America could be renamed “Mexican America”, referencing historic maps of the region.

Most global news agencies, including Reuters, continue to refer to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico, though some include context on Trump's executive order when relevant.

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