AP Sues Trump Officials Over Press Access Restrictions

Washington, D.C. — The Associated Press (AP) filed a lawsuit against three officials from the Trump administration on Friday, claiming violations of its First Amendment rights related to access to presidential events. The suit asks a federal judge to block the administration’s recent restrictions on AP journalists, which were imposed just 10 days prior.

The lawsuit was submitted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and assigned to U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee. The AP argues that the White House’s actions represent an unconstitutional attempt to control media speech and reporting.

This legal action comes after the White House barred AP reporters from covering select events at the White House and Mar-a-Lago, alongside preventing them from flying on Air Force One with other journalists. The administration cited the AP’s refusal to adopt President Donald Trump’s designation of “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico” following an executive order.

“The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government,” the AP stated in its lawsuit, which names White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

In response to the lawsuit, Leavitt commented, “We feel we are in the right in this position. We’re going to ensure that truth and accuracy is present at that White House every single day.”

The AP’s contention focuses on what it identifies as a concerted effort by the Trump administration to undermine journalistic independence. “This targeted attack on the AP’s editorial independence and ability to gather and report the news strikes at the very core of the First Amendment,” the AP argued.

This case reflects broader tensions between the Trump administration and numerous media outlets, with a coalition of approximately 40 news organizations recently signing a letter urging the White House to reverse its policy against the AP. The letter included voices from outlets such as Fox News Channel and Newsmax, which expressed their support for AP’s right to independent editorial decision-making.

A recent email from Wiles to the AP indicated that the administration aimed for the name change to be reflected in the widely-used AP Stylebook. “We were hopeful the name change would be reflected where American audiences are concerned,” she stated.

The AP has indicated that it will continue to use “Gulf of Mexico” in its reporting but would note Trump’s action. The news agency also highlighted that it had previously made attempts to resolve the matter directly with the administration.

Trump has publicly criticized the AP, describing the organization as “radical left lunatics” and a “third-rate outfit with a first-rate name.” He suggested that most people have accepted the name change but accused the AP of trying to “be cute” regarding the alteration.

The mixed response from other media organizations reveals ongoing divisions: The New York Times and The Washington Post continue using “Gulf of Mexico,” while some outlets, like Fox News, have aligned with Trump’s terminology. Interestingly, Google Maps has begun listing the specific area as “Gulf of America” for North American users.

The AP has been a part of the White House press pool for over a century, making its exclusion from certain press events notably contentious. Julie Pace, the AP’s senior vice president and executive editor, expressed her concerns and traveled to Florida this week to discuss the situation further with Wiles.