A poster depicting a map labeled “Gulf of America” alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, dated February 21, 2025.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images/AFP
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JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images/AFP
The Associated Press has initiated legal action against the Trump administration due to its exclusion from significant presidential events, a consequence of its refusal to adopt the new name for the Gulf of Mexico, now referred to as the Gulf of America.
On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf, impacting federal government usage without any authority beyond the U.S.
The AP asserts that its internal guidance encourages its journalists and associated news organizations to use the Gulf’s traditional name while recognizing Trump’s intended change in terminology. The agency claims that the White House’s actions constitute a threat to press freedom.
“The press, along with every American, deserves the freedom to select their language without government retaliation,” states the AP’s lawsuit, filed by the Ballard Spahr law firm. “The Constitution prohibits governmental control over speech. Allowing such government interference is an infringement on the liberties of all Americans.”
The news organization reports that its journalists remain barred from key venues such as the Oval Office, Air Force One, Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, and other locations where White House press credentialed journalists are typically allowed.
Events such as Trump’s press conference alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were inaccessible to AP reporters, as was another press event where Trump reiterated his position to maintain the ban on AP reporters from significant gatherings.
The AP caters to various audiences and media outlets worldwide. Following its exclusion, there has been a surge of appeals and private protests from numerous media organizations, along with diplomatic attempts to address the situation, even as both parties signaled a lack of willingness to compromise.
On Tuesday, Trump commented to the press, “We’ll keep them out until they agree to call it the Gulf of America.”
The following day, the AP Executive Editor, Julie Pace, met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in Florida. Although neither side disclosed details about the meeting, the AP reaffirmed its commitment to uphold its independent editorial standards.
On Friday, during an appearance at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the lawsuit and noted that she would meet them in court.
The AP’s lawsuit states that it has been part of the White House press pool since its establishment over a century ago, which has enabled the agency to deliver timely and comprehensive updates on the president’s activities, information that is vital for public awareness.
This week, the White House Correspondents Association urged Trump and his staff to reconsider their stance. Support has also come from Trump-friendly Fox News through their respective association.
The right-wing outlet Newsmax even released a separate statement of support for the New York Times, stating, “We can empathize with President Trump’s frustrations, as the media has often treated him unjustly, but Newsmax maintains that the AP, as a private entity, has the right to choose the language it employs in its reports.”
However, this action aligns with other strategies of the new administration. Numerous federal agencies have begun efforts to identify and terminate subscriptions to various news organizations. For instance, under Defense Secretary and former Fox star Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon removed access for eight news entities, including NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, UJ, and NBC, from their longstanding work areas. Furthermore, the new chairperson of the FCC has commenced investigations into all major television networks, excluding Rupert Murdoch’s Fox, along with NPR.
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich remarked last week that the AP’s stance on the Gulf reveals a “commitment to misinformation” by the news agency.
“While their right to negligent and dishonest reporting is safeguarded by the First Amendment,” he added, “this does not guarantee them unrestricted access to constrained environments.”
Earlier this week, Trump stated, “The Associated Press has consistently erred regarding the [2020] election, Trump, and the treatment of Trump and his governance concerning Republicans and conservatives.”
“They’re not doing us any favors,” Trump remarked during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago. “And I suppose I’m not doing them any favors either.” The AP was also barred from attending this particular session.
The lawsuit filed by the AP contends that the prohibition of its reporters violates the due process clause contained within the Bill of Rights, referencing a 1977 D.C. Circuit Court ruling affirming that journalists’ “First Amendment interest” in accessing the White House “undoubtedly qualifies as liberty which may not be deprived without due process under the Fifth Amendment.”
The White House has yet to comment on the AP’s lawsuit.
