NEW YORK — The White House declared on Wednesday that media outlets refusing to adopt President Donald Trump’s newly minted designation for the Gulf of Mexico are disseminating misinformation. The administration reaffirmed that it would maintain restrictions preventing Associated Press (AP) journalists from attending certain presidential events.
Trump announced that the Gulf of Mexico, which is bordered by Mexico, the United States, and several other nations, would henceforth be referred to as the Gulf of America. The AP, known for its authoritative Stylebook, indicated it would retain the term Gulf of Mexico while acknowledging the President’s decree, as it strives to ensure that geographical names remain recognizable on a global scale.
This latest attempt by the White House to dictate language to independent press entities, coupled with retaliatory measures, signifies a notable escalation in Trump’s interactions with the media.
During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America, and I’m not sure why news outlets don’t want to call it that.” However, the Gulf has been known as the Gulf of Mexico for centuries and lies partially in territories outside of U.S. jurisdiction.
On Tuesday, AP journalists faced exclusion from events in both the Oval Office and the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room. Although one AP reporter managed to be present at the briefing session for Leavitt’s comments, they were later denied access to the Oval Office for the swearing-in of Tulsi Gabbard as the national intelligence director.
Julie Pace, AP’s senior vice president and executive editor, formally objected to these actions in a communication to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, asserting that the measures appeared to be punitive actions against the agency for its editorial choices, stating, “It is among the most basic tenets of the First Amendment that the government cannot retaliate against the public or the press for what they say.”
Responding to the situation, the White House reiterated that access to the Oval Office is a privilege. Leavitt expressed, “Nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask the president of the United States questions. We reserve the right to decide who gets to go into the Oval Office.”
Typically, during events with limited capacity, a small group of journalists is allowed to attend. Established press agencies like the AP have historically been part of that pool in previous administrations.
When asked if the decision to bar AP reporters was retaliatory in nature, Leavitt emphasized that the Interior Secretary has officially endorsed the name change. She further remarked that “pretty much every other outlet in this room has recognized that body of water as the Gulf of America.”
This action has sparked concern among press advocates. Noted attorney Floyd Abrams articulated that denying AP journalist access to the Oval Office due to their refusal to adopt the president’s preferred nomenclature is a direct violation of First Amendment rights.
The Inter American Press Association, a significant coalition of news organizations, condemned the White House’s actions as “an act of censorship and intimidation” that contravenes press freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. José Roberto Dutriz, the IAPA President, expressed his unease, saying, “Restricting press coverage and warning against the AP demonstrate a troubling intention to impose official criteria on public interest information, with the threat of reprisals for those who do not comply.”
Users of Google maps in the U.S. will now see the water body labeled as the Gulf of America, while Mexican users will continue to see it referred to as the Gulf of Mexico. Internationally, Google displays it as “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).” However, the AP’s usage remains critical, influencing numerous other news outlets and organizations that rely on it for standardized naming conventions.
Some larger media organizations have established their naming protocols. For instance, The New York Times declared it would keep using Gulf of Mexico while acknowledging Trump’s renaming where relevant, given the name has been in use for over 400 years. The Washington Post also stated its intention to continue using Gulf of Mexico to avoid global reader confusion due to the name Gulf of America, which is not entirely within U.S. boundaries. Conversely, Fox News announced that starting Sunday, it would align with Trump’s designation and refer to it as the Gulf of America.
Additionally, Trump’s administration has directed that the U.S.’s tallest mountain revert to its former name of Mount McKinley after it was renamed Denali by former President Barack Obama. The AP indicated it would comply with Trump’s decision as he holds the authority to rename locations strictly within U.S. jurisdiction.
