AP loses bid to regain full White House access after Gulf naming dispute

A federal judge denied the Associated Press' request to restore full White House access after President Donald Trump's administration barred its reporters for continuing to refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name.

A U.S. district judge on Monday rejected the Associated Press’ attempt to regain full media access to the White House, following its refusal to adopt President Donald Trump’s directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."

Judge Trevor McFadden ruled against issuing a temporary injunction, stating that the restrictions on AP journalists in "more private areas" of the White House differ from past cases where press access was revoked.

The AP filed a lawsuit against three senior Trump officials, arguing that barring its journalists violates First Amendment protections by attempting to dictate the language used in news reporting. However, White House lawyers argued that the AP has no constitutional right to special access.

The ban prevents AP reporters from covering events inside the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in other restricted areas, limiting their ability to witness key moments firsthand.

The White House Correspondents’ Association warned that the decision could "chill and distort news coverage of the president," while Reuters and other media organizations issued statements supporting the AP.

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