White House commands reinstating AP
(MENAFN) A federal judge has ordered the White House to restore the Associated Press's access to presidential events, following its exclusion over a dispute regarding the term "Gulf of America." The AP was barred from Air Force One and the Oval Office in February after refusing to adopt the term "Gulf of America," which President Donald Trump had designated for what has traditionally been called the Gulf of Mexico. The AP argued that the traditional term was globally recognized, while Trump criticized the agency as a "radical left organization."
In response to the ban, the AP filed a lawsuit, claiming that its exclusion violated First Amendment rights to press freedom. US District Judge Trevor McFadden ruled in favor of the AP, stating the government cannot exclude journalists from presidential events based on their editorial choices. The ruling gives the White House until the end of the week to appeal, but does not guarantee permanent or priority access for the AP.
Judge McFadden emphasized that the decision does not mandate special treatment for the AP and that other wire services should not be treated worse. AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton welcomed the ruling, which reaffirms the press’s right to operate freely without government retaliation. AP Executive Editor Julie Pace stated the case was about more than a term dispute, emphasizing it was about whether the government can control press freedom.
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