“While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One.”
On Friday, the White House banned the Associated Press from covering events in "limited spaces" such as the Oval Office or Air Force One as the outlet continues to use the Gulf of Mexico as the term for the body of water that President Donald Trump has renamed the Gulf of America.
"The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America," wrote Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich. "This decision is not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press' commitment to misinformation."
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View on X"While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One. Going forward, that space will now be opened up to the many thousands of reporters who have been barred from covering these intimate areas of the administration. Associate Press journalists and photographers will retain their credentials to the White House complex."
The banishment from the Oval Office has been ongoing, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters on Wednesday that "nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask the president of the United States questions. That’s an invitation that is given," and "I was very upfront in my briefing on Day 1 that if we feel that there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable."
The Associated Press’ style guide, which is used by many newsrooms, has stated that it will continue to use the Gulf of Mexico name, citing historic precedence and the fact that international bodies like Mexico have not yet recognized the name.
In a day one executive order, Trump directed the Secretary of the Interior to take "all appropriate actions to rename as the “Gulf of America” the U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba in the area formerly named as the Gulf of Mexico" within 30 days. Trump also declared February 9, 2025 as "Gulf of America Day."
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