Authored by Savannah Hulsey Pointer via The Epoch Times,
The Trump administration has recently announced restrictions on Associated Press journalists’ access to certain areas regularly visited by the president, such as the Oval Office and Air Force One. This move is part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing frustration with how he is portrayed in the media.
AP News sent an email to subscriber organizations on Jan. 23 notifying them that it will continue to use “Gulf of Mexico” instead of “Gulf of America,” the name given by the Trump administration to the body of water.
The White House’s decision to restrict access was made on Feb. 14, with the administration citing the dispute over the naming.
“The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America,” said White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich in a statement on social media.
President Trump has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the media since the beginning of his political career, frequently calling out specific media outlets and companies.
The impact of the AP’s decision is significant due to the widespread use of its newswriting standards as the default style by many news agencies. While some organizations may have different preferred terms, AP Style is commonly followed.
As a result of the AP’s stance, the normalization of the term “Gulf of America” may be hindered.
Following the White House’s announcement, AP journalists and photographers will still have credentials for the White House complex but will face restrictions in certain areas.
Budowich also mentioned that this move could provide an opportunity for other reporters who have been excluded from covering specific areas of the administration.
Support for Mount McKinley
When the AP initially made its decision, it highlighted that Trump’s order only applies within the United States and that other countries and international groups are not obligated to recognize the name change.
The AP emphasized its global reach and the need for place names to be easily understood by all audiences.
“The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen,” stated AP.
Budowich criticized this decision, stating, “This decision is not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press’s commitment to misinformation. While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One.”
The AP pointed out that it regularly reviews its standards and that its guidance often reflects common usage. The AP cited its use of two names for the Gulf of California as an example.
However, the AP has agreed to comply with the administration’s directive to revert to using the name Mount McKinley for North America’s tallest peak. The name had been changed to Denali in 2015 under the Obama administration, a change that the AP had adopted in its style guide.
The AP explained that since the peak is located solely within the U.S., Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names.
Clashes with the Media
The White House gained attention in 2018 for revoking the press credentials of CNN’s Jim Acosta during the previous administration. This action followed a heated exchange between the reporter and the president at a press conference.
A federal judge later ruled in favor of CNN, ordering the White House to reinstate Acosta’s access, despite Trump’s repeated labeling of the network as “fake news.”
Other reporters, including Playboy’s Brian Karem, have also faced access restrictions. Karem lost and then regained his White House credentials in 2019 under the former administration.
Karem’s press pass was revoked in August 2019 after he disrupted a White House event. A district judge ruled the following month that the White House had acted improperly, emphasizing that reporters’ First Amendment rights should not be violated without due process.
In 2023, journalist Simon Ateba sued the Biden administration on First Amendment grounds, alleging discrimination by the press team. Despite being allowed to attend White House briefings, Ateba claimed he was denied access because the administration allows “biased journalists to control who gets to ask challenging questions.”
A History of Press Relations
Press access to the White House has evolved over time. While presidents like Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln had strained relationships with the press, it wasn’t until Woodrow Wilson’s administration that regular presidential press conferences began in 1913.
Under Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, the role of journalists at the White House expanded. Franklin Roosevelt’s administration in the 1930s formalized regular press conferences where journalists could ask questions.
During the Truman and Eisenhower administrations in the 1940s and 1950s, the process of press access became more structured. In 1955, Eisenhower’s press secretary allowed various media outlets to record news conferences using radio, television, and newspaper equipment.
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