Trump White House Bans AP Reporter Over 'Gulf Of America' Conflict: Is A First Amendment Court Case In The Works?

The White House has barred Associated Press reporters from two of President Donald Trump's media events this week, marking a significant break from longstanding press access norms. The AP said it was blocked because it hadn't changed its stylebook entry for Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" — a name change ordered by Trump last month. The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. 

The ban extended into Wednesday, when an AP journalist was denied access to the swearing-in of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. AP executive editor Julie Pace condemned the move, saying the actions were "plainly intended to punish the AP for the content of its speech."

First Amendment Violation?

In a Wednesday letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, reported CNN, Pace said "the AP is prepared to vigorously defend its constitutional rights and protest the infringement on the public's right to independent news coverage of their government and elected officials."

At another press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested the restriction could continue. "We reserve the right to decide who gets to go into the Oval Office."

Traditionally, the AP is part of the presidential press pool, a small group of journalists who provide coverage for the broader media. Press freedom organizations quickly denounced AP's exclusion. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called it "an alarming attack on press freedom" and "viewpoint discrimination."

CNN and other media outlets framed the move as part of a broader effort to control language and press narratives. Critics fear the administration could extend similar penalties to reporters covering sensitive issues such as transgender rights or altered government data.

Google, Apple Follow Trump's Order

Alphabet Inc GOOGL GOOG’s Google Maps has officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for users in the U.S. Google defended the update, citing its "longstanding practice" of following official government sources. Apple AAPL followed suit.

Mexico, Latin America On Trump Name Change

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote a letter to Google telling the firm it should not respond to “the mandate of a country” to change the name of “an international sea.”

While Trump is passing off the name change as a patriotic gesture, others, especially in Latin America, view it as an “unnecessary provocation with limited practical impact,” noted the Rio Times.

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