AP Requests End to White House Ban, Citing Retaliation

The Associated Press is once again petitioning a federal judge to reinstate its access to events involving the president, arguing that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against the news organization. The AP’s resistance stems from its decision not to adhere to an executive order signed by the former president, which aimed to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden declined the AP’s request for an injunction to lift the restrictions affecting its reporters and photographers. However, McFadden acknowledged that legal precedents do not favor the White House’s stance and encouraged the administration to reconsider its actions before the scheduled hearing on March 20.

In a revised legal filing made on Monday, the AP highlighted ongoing situations where journalists have been denied access. This includes an incident where a photographer was barred from capturing Air Force One’s arrival at West Palm Beach airport. Moreover, the White House has fully assumed control over the pool membership that covers president-related events, particularly those with limited attendance.

“The end result is that the AP’s press credentials now grant its journalists less access to the White House than the same credentials provide to other members of the White House press corps,” states the amended lawsuit.

The Trump administration has not commented on the issue as of Tuesday morning. The White House, in turn, defends its actions by stating that it is not obstructing the AP’s ability to report news—though it does control the extent of access to the president specifically. Recently, the administration has expanded the pool of participating outlets to include those aligning with Trump’s perspectives.

Trump has publicly criticized the AP, describing it as a group of “radical left lunatics” and remarked: “We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America.”

The significance of this case is heightened by the AP Stylebook, a widely used guide for journalistic standards, which advises continuing to use “Gulf of Mexico” despite Trump’s directive because the term is internationally recognized.

The lawsuit underscores that the White House’s ban “impairs the AP’s ability to produce timely reporting and publish photographs swiftly—qualities imperative for a wire service—causing delays that negatively impact the AP and, consequently, the multitude of news outlets and readers worldwide who depend on its journalism.”

Besides exclusion from regular coverage pools—which the AP has contributed to during presidential coverages for over a century—the agency reports its journalists are being barred from larger events accessible to those with White House credentials who book in advance. This includes state visits by global leaders like France’s President Emmanuel Macron, the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Interestingly, AP journalists arriving from overseas with foreign media teams were allowed to cover such events, according to the AP. Typically, the AP does not send its international journalists to cover White House events.

In the updated lawsuit, the AP claims a source informed its journalists that the exclusion now includes photographers, potentially affecting the revenue the AP generates from selling its images.

Numerous news organizations, including those supporting Trump like Fox News Channel and Newsmax, have signed an open letter urging the White House to reconsider its policy.