Trump Continues Ban of Associated Press Over ‘Gulf of America’
In an apparent push for media to adopt the new White House administration’s ideals and polices, President Donald Trump has continued to block the Associated Press from the Oval Office.
AP said that the president blocked their reporters from an event on Tuesday after the news agency refused to change its editorial style on the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump has ordered be renamed the “Gulf of America.” The outlet said that a second AP reporter was later denied access from an evening event in the Diplomatic Reception Room.
“It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism,” said AP’s Executive Editor Julie Pace in a statement issued Tuesday. “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.”
Trump’s first 10 days in power were marked by an onslaught of policy moves and executive orders aimed at overwhelming his political opposition. In January, Trump signed the executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S.’ tallest mountain in Alaska, Denali, back to Mt. McKinley as part of his administration’s vow to honor “American greatness.”
The body of water borders both the United States and Mexico and has been named the Gulf of Mexico for more than 400 years, the AP notes, adding that its AP Stylebook is used and relied upon by writers and journalists across the world.
Since the president’s order only carries authority within the U.S, and Mexico, as well as other countries, are not required to recognize the name change, the AP stated that it would refer to the Gulf of Mexico “by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the ban during a press briefing on Wednesday, per the Washington Post. “It is a privilege to cover this White House. It’s a privilege to be the White House press secretary,” Leavitt said. “And nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask the president of the United States questions. That’s an invitation that is given. … We reserve the right to decide who gets to go into the Oval Office.”
In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Wednesday, called on the Trump administration to reconsider its decision, signaling potential legal action. “The actions taken by the White House were plainly intended to punish the AP for the content of its speech,” wrote Pace. “This is viewpoint discrimination based on a news organization’s editorial choices and a clear violation of the First Amendment.”
