WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Associated Press (AP) has filed a lawsuit against the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump after its reporters were barred from covering key presidential events, including Oval Office meetings and Air Force One trips.
The lawsuit, submitted to a U.S. district court in Washington on Friday, names three senior White House officials—Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich—as defendants. AP argues that the ban violates both the First Amendment’s protections on press freedom and the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause. The organization is seeking an emergency hearing and a court order to lift the restrictions.
Why Was AP Banned?
According to AP, the White House is retaliating against the news agency for refusing to adopt a term preferred by President Trump. The dispute centers on AP’s continued use of the name “Gulf of Mexico,” despite Trump’s insistence that it be called the “Gulf of America.”
At a recent press conference, Trump criticized AP, stating, “The Associated Press just refuses to go with what the law is and what has taken place. It’s called the ‘Gulf of America’ now.”
AP, however, maintains that its editorial standards are independent of political influence. Since other nations do not recognize the new name, the agency has continued using “Gulf of Mexico” in its reports while noting Trump’s decree.
In its legal filing, AP contends that the White House’s actions amount to an attempt to control media language. “The White House has ordered journalists to use certain words in their coverage or face an indefinite denial of access,” AP’s lawyers wrote.
White House Responds
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the lawsuit. “Upon driving over here from the White House, I actually learned that I have been sued by the Associated Press,” she said. “So we’ll see them in court. We feel we are in the right.”
Leavitt defended the administration’s stance, stating, “We are going to ensure that truth and accuracy are present at the White House every single day.”
The White House insists that AP remains accredited like other news organizations and can still attend regular press briefings. However, its reporters are banned from Oval Office events and Air Force One trips.
Impact on Press Freedom
As a major global news agency, AP plays a vital role in White House coverage, providing reports to thousands of news outlets worldwide. It is also part of the official “press pool,” which travels with the president and shares coverage with other media organizations.
“When AP is denied access, the thousands of global news outlets that rely on its reports—and the billions of people who consume them—are also denied access,” AP’s legal team argued in its complaint.
While no Supreme Court ruling guarantees media access to White House events, appellate court decisions have addressed similar issues. AP’s lawsuit seeks to prevent future government attempts to influence journalistic coverage.
“The Constitution does not allow the government to control speech,” AP’s lawyers stated. “Allowing such government control and retaliation to stand is a threat to every American’s freedom.”
