The Associated Press (AP) is urging a federal judge for the second time to immediately reinstate its access to presidential events, claiming that the Trump administration has intensified its retaliation against the news agency. This development follows AP’s decision to not comply with the president’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico. Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden denied AP’s request for an injunction to lift the ban on many of its reporters and photographers but noted that legal precedent appeared to favor AP. McFadden encouraged the administration to reconsider its position ahead of a second hearing scheduled for March 20.
The AP, in a revamped lawsuit submitted late Monday, highlighted ongoing instances where its journalists were turned away. One such incident involved a photographer who was barred from the West Palm Beach airport tarmac during the arrival of Air Force One. Moreover, the lawsuit alleges the White House has seized control over the membership of the press pool covering the president at smaller engagements. The lawsuit argues that while AP’s credentials grant access to White House premises, they are now inadequate compared to what other press corps members enjoy.
No immediate comment came from the Trump administration upon request on Tuesday morning.
Labeled as a ‘targeted attack,’ the AP initially filed suit on February 21, identifying White House chief of staff Susan Wiles, deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt as the defendants. The AP, a longstanding not-for-profit news enterprise, describes the White House actions as an assault on press freedom and the public’s right to free speech without fear of government reprisals. The administration, however, claims that it is not hindering AP from reporting news or accessing White House grounds, but asserts control over access to the president himself. Recently, it has expanded the pool of coverages to include outlets favorable to Trump’s perspectives.
President Trump criticized the AP, calling it a “radical left lunatic” organization, and insisted on keeping them out until they recognized the Gulf as the “Gulf of America.” The AP opposes this stance, arguing that since the Gulf is not confined to U.S. boundaries, Trump’s order may cause international confusion. Given that the AP Stylebook, which sets industry standards widely employed by journalists, advises on the continued use of “Gulf of Mexico” for clarity to a global audience, the agency remains defiant, albeit noting Trump’s directive.
The White House’s exclusion of AP has reportedly impaired the agency’s capacity to create timely reports and photographs, a critical attribute for a wire service. Such hindrances, as stated in the lawsuit, impact the thousands of media outlets and countless readers depending on AP’s journalism.
Furthermore, the AP claims exclusion from larger White House events, events historically accessible to journalists with proper credentials if reserved in advance. Their exclusion extends to covering significant state events involving international leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, AP journalists from the leaders’ home countries, who traveled with the media entourages, were allowed to cover these events.
In the updated lawsuit, AP mentioned a credible source indicated that the restriction had broadened from text reporters to photographers aiming to diminish the organization’s picture-based revenue.
A multitude of news organizations have signed a letter imploring the White House to retract its policy. Signatories even include pro-Trump outlets such as Fox News Channel and Newsmax.
