Trump Administration Bans Associated Press From White House Events Over Disagreement on Gulf of Mexico Name Change

The White House has taken a bold step by indefinitely banning the Associated Press (AP) from access to key events, following a disagreement over the outlet’s editorial stance.

This latest move stems from AP’s refusal to adjust its writing style to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” as directed by the Trump administration.

White House Responds to AP’s Refusal

Taylor Budowich, Deputy Chief of Staff, voiced the administration’s stance on Friday, stating that the AP’s decision was “divisive” and accused the outlet of spreading misinformation.

Budowich emphasized that while the First Amendment protects the right to free speech, it doesn’t grant the privilege of unlimited access to exclusive spaces like the Oval Office or Air Force One.

AP Denied Access to Key White House Events

As a result of the AP’s refusal to make the requested changes, the White House restricted the news organization from attending “pooled” events in the Oval Office and excluded them from a press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Typically, the AP is granted the first question during press briefings, but during White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s briefing on Wednesday, the AP was notably ignored.

On Friday, when President Trump met with reporters in the Oval Office, AP journalists and photographers were kept out.

The AP’s reporter stationed at Joint Base Andrews was also informed that they would not be allowed to board Air Force One with the president, a privilege the AP normally enjoys as part of the permanent “pool” of reporters who travel with the president.

The AP’s Response to the White House Ban

The AP expressed concern over the ban, stating they were informed that they would not be granted access to the Oval Office unless they aligned their editorial policies with the president’s executive order.

This executive order mandated the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”

In response, AP’s executive editor, Julie Pace, sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, objecting to the decision to block the news organization from White House events.

The AP has long held a critical role in presidential coverage, being a constant presence in the White House press pool since the days following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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