US Federal Judge Orders White House to Lift Restrictions on Associated Press

A federal judge in the United States has ruled that Associated Press journalists should immediately regain access to all White House events, demanding the lifting of restrictions imposed by the administration. The news agency had refused to change its reference to the Gulf of Mexico, despite a decree from Donald Trump renaming it the Gulf of America. Judge Trevor McFadden, appointed by Donald Trump during his first term, ruled that the White House must allow Associated Press journalists access to the Oval Office and Air Force One until the news agency’s appeal against its exclusion is reviewed. The White House began restricting AP access to various events involving the U.S. president, including the Oval Office and Air Force One, after the agency announced it would continue using the term ‘Gulf of Mexico,’ despite Trump’s executive order renaming it. In his ruling, McFadden emphasized that under the First Amendment, if the government opens its doors to some journalists, it cannot close them to others based on their opinions. The decision will take effect on Sunday to give the U.S. government time to file an appeal, with McFadden’s final ruling expected in the coming months. Loren Istvan, a representative of the Associated Press, stated that today’s decision reaffirms the fundamental right of the press and public to speak freely without governmental retaliation. The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) also welcomed the judicial decision, underscoring the principle that the government should not control independent media. The AP explained that the Gulf of Mexico has been known by this name for over 400 years and noted that Trump’s name change applies only within the U.S., as other countries and international bodies have not complied. Established in 1846, the AP publishes over 375,000 articles, 1.24 million photos, and 80,000 videos annually, reaching a global audience. Since Trump’s return to the presidency, the White House has restricted access for traditional large American and international media outlets, prioritizing representatives from television networks, websites, podcasts, and blogs. Traditionally, the WHCA decides which media attend press briefings or accompany the president, but since February, the White House has taken over this decision-making process.