Washington, D.C. – The Associated Press (AP) said Tuesday that the White House barred its reporter from an Oval Office executive order signing due to the news agency’s continued use of the term “Gulf of Mexico” instead of adopting the Trump administration’s preferred name, “Gulf of America.”
In a statement, the AP revealed that it was informed by the White House that unless it aligned its editorial standards with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico, it would lose access to the event. The restriction was enforced during Tuesday’s signing ceremony, which included a question-and-answer session with Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
AP Executive Editor Julie Pace strongly criticized the decision, stating, “It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism. Limiting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP’s speech not only severely impedes the public’s access to independent news, it plainly violates the First Amendment.”
The AP’s editorial guidance maintains that it will continue referring to the body of water by its longstanding name, while acknowledging Trump’s newly chosen designation. The agency emphasized that the Gulf of Mexico has been recognized under its original name for more than 400 years and that international organizations are not obligated to adopt the change.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) condemned the administration’s move, calling it “unacceptable.” WHCA President Eugene Daniels stated, “The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors’ decisions.”
This incident marks another instance of Trump’s contentious relationship with the press. Throughout his political career, he has repeatedly denied or revoked press credentials for journalists and media outlets critical of his administration. During his first term, CNN’s then-Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta had his press pass revoked after a heated exchange with Trump, though it was later restored following a lawsuit by CNN.
As concerns over press freedoms continue to mount, the AP stands firm in its commitment to independent journalism, vowing not to alter its reporting standards in response to political pressure.
