Key Points
Trump administration denied AP access after it refused to adopt "Gulf of America" term
Judge McFadden scheduled another hearing for March 20 on the First Amendment case
White House displays "Victory" on briefing room screens following favorable court ruling
Press organizations including WHCA stand with AP against access restrictions
US District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, denied the Associated Press' request for an immediate injunction to stop the Trump administration from barring its reporters from events. The judge also scheduled another hearing for the case for March 20.
https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1894152497394012344
The feud began when the news agency refused to change its style from "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" after President Donald Trump renamed it with an executive order. In response, the Trump administration began denying the AP from the Oval Office, Air Force One and other areas--some of which have been open to the agency as part of the White House press pool.
The AP sued three White House officials on Friday after the White House barred it from multiple events over its decision to continue using the "Gulf of Mexico" name over US President Donald Trump's preferred "Gulf of America."
The lawsuit named White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich as defendants.
Meanwhile "We Stand with AP" poster was also seen in the White House briefing room. The 'White House Correspondents' Association and the Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press have sided with the AP.
After the ruling on Monday, the White House said it stood by its decision to block access to the news agency.
"As we have said from the beginning, asking the President of the United States questions in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One is a privilege granted to journalists, not a legal right," the Trump administration said in a statement.
The AP in a statement said that the decision was a constitutional violation because the White House had tried to police its speech, violating its First and Fifth Amendment rights.
"The Constitution does not allow the government to control speech," it said in its complaint." Allowing such government control and retaliation to stand is a threat to every American's freedom."
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, took a jibe at the situation and gave a 'new name' to the Associated Press.
In a post on X, he said, "Their new name is much more fitting".
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1894454068644647091
In the photo, he 'renamed' Associated Press to Associated Propaganda.
