A legal dispute between the Associated Press (AP) and the Trump administration has taken an early turn in favor of the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and other top officials secured a preliminary victory after a federal judge declined to immediately reinstate AP’s access to certain presidential events.
Judge Rules Against Immediate Reinstatement
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden rejected AP’s request to regain access to President Trump’s events, including the Oval Office and Air Force One.
The lawsuit alleges that the administration violated AP’s First Amendment rights by demanding it adopt specific language in its reporting.
The news outlet claims it was barred from events after refusing to use the term “Gulf of America.”
Despite these concerns, McFadden ruled that AP had not demonstrated “irreparable harm” from the restriction, noting that the organization could still obtain information from pool reports shared with all members of the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Judge Acknowledges Potential Issues
Although he ruled against the emergency request, McFadden expressed some reservations about the administration’s actions.
He described the ban as “discriminatory” and “problematic,” questioning whether the White House was unfairly targeting AP due to its editorial choices.
He also pointed out that wire services have long been granted access to presidential events, making this decision an unusual departure from tradition.
White House Defends Its Position
The Trump administration remains firm in its stance, arguing that media access to the president is a privilege, not a legal right.
Justice Department attorney Brian Hudak emphasized that the White House has the discretion to decide which journalists can attend events, stating that AP is not entitled to “special media access.”
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this sentiment, reaffirming that questioning the president in exclusive settings such as the Oval Office and Air Force One is a privilege granted by the administration.
Broader Media Backlash
The ruling has sparked concern among journalists and media organizations.
The White House Correspondents’ Association filed a legal brief supporting AP, arguing that barring the outlet undermines press freedom and could influence how news is reported.
More than 40 media organizations, including Fox News and Newsmax, have backed AP in urging the White House to reverse the ban.
Even Newsmax, known for its favorable coverage of Trump, issued a statement defending AP’s right to use its own editorial language.
Next Steps in the Legal Battle
The legal fight is far from over. AP’s next court hearing is set for March 20, where it will continue to challenge the administration’s actions as a violation of press freedoms.
Spokeswoman Lauren Easton emphasized that the organization remains committed to defending the media’s right to report without government interference.
With ongoing legal proceedings and mounting pressure from the media industry, the dispute over press access and government influence on journalistic language will remain a key issue in the coming weeks.