On Tuesday, the White House barred an Associated Press (AP) reporter from attending an event with President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk. This action came after the AP refused to adopt Trump’s new label for the Gulf of Mexico, calling it the “Gulf of America.”
AP Responds to Punishment for Independent Journalism
In response, the AP criticized the move, stating, “It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism.” The news agency further argued, “Limiting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP’s speech not only severely impedes the public’s access to independent news, it plainly violates the First Amendment.”
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AP’s Role in Providing Global Coverage
As a permanent member of the “pool,” the AP plays a vital role in offering round-the-clock coverage of the president. Its stories are published in newspapers and websites worldwide. Furthermore, the AP’s style guide is used by numerous media outlets, including Bloomberg News.
The Gulf of Mexico Name Debate
On January 23, the AP issued guidance stating that the Gulf of Mexico had been named as such for over 400 years. While the agency acknowledged Trump’s new label, it emphasized that it would continue to use the original name in its reports.
WHCA Condemns White House Actions
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which represents journalists covering the presidency, strongly condemned the White House’s decision. WHCA President Eugene Daniels stated, “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.” He described the move as “unacceptable.”
Trump’s History of Media Clashes
This isn’t the first time President Trump has taken action against the media. During his campaign, he banned certain media outlets from his events due to their coverage. Additionally, in his first term, his administration attempted to revoke press passes from reporters, but backed down after a federal court sided with the press.
