The Associated Press took legal action against three officials from the Trump administration on Friday regarding their access to presidential events, invoking the principle of freedom of speech as they sought a federal judge’s intervention to lift a 10-day ban on its journalists.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., the lawsuit underscores concerns over an alleged unconstitutional maneuver by the White House to regulate speech. This contention stems from President Trump’s recent issuance of an executive order that altered the terminology used to describe the Gulf of Mexico, now insisting it be referred to as the “Gulf of America.” The AP argues that the government should not dictate the language the press uses.
In its suit, the AP emphasized that “the press and citizens of the United States possess the right to select their own language without facing governmental repercussions.” The complaint specifically names White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as defendants.
The agency publicly denounced what it characterized as a targeted assault on its editorial autonomy and its ability to accurately gather and disseminate information. They stressed that such actions threaten the essence of the First Amendment rights and called for immediate judicial intervention.
The Trump administration’s actions included barring the AP from attending press events at both the White House and Mar-a-Lago, as well as preventing the agency from occupying its traditional seat on Air Force One. This exclusion was directly linked to the AP’s refusal to conform fully to the President’s revision of the Gulf’s name.
Trump reiterated this stance, stating, “We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America.” Concurrently, around 40 news organizations have backed a petition initiated by the White House Correspondents Association, urging the administration to reconsider its position regarding the Associated Press.
