A lawsuit was filed by the Associated Press against three officials from the Trump administration on Friday, challenging restrictions placed on its journalists’ access to presidential events. The AP claims that these restrictions infringe upon their rights of free speech, leading them to seek intervention from a federal judge to lift a 10-day bar on their reporters.
The lawsuit was brought forward in the U.S. District Court located in Washington, D.C. The AP argues that the case reflects an unconstitutional attempt by the White House to exert control over speech. This is highlighted by the recent directive from President Donald Trump, which mandated a change in terminology from “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America,” as instated through an executive order last month.
According to the Associated Press, “The press and the citizens of America possess the fundamental right to select their own words without facing government retribution.” The lawsuit specifically names White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as defendants.
The AP’s complaint emphasizes that the actions taken against it are a direct assault on the agency’s editorial independence and its ability to report news effectively, asserting that such an attack undermines the essence of the First Amendment. The agency is urging the court to take prompt action to address this situation.
Following the restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, the AP was barred from attending press events at both the White House and Mar-a-Lago, and was also prevented from occupying its usual space on Air Force One. These limitations were explicitly linked to the AP’s refusal to adopt the president’s new terminology. Trump addressed the situation by stating, “We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America.”
Moreover, this week, approximately 40 news organizations came together to sign a letter coordinated by the White House Correspondents Association. The letter urged the administration to reconsider its stance against the Associated Press and to reinstate their access to presidential events.
