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The Associated Press (AP) has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing the White House of violating the First Amendment by restricting its access to presidential events. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., specifically names White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as defendants.
The legal action comes 10 days after the White House began barring AP journalists from covering official events, including press briefings at the White House and Mar-a-Lago, and from flying aboard Air Force One.
“This targeted attack on AP’s editorial independence and ability to gather and report the news strikes at the very core of the First Amendment,” the lawsuit states.
Press Ban Tied to AP’s Refusal to Adopt ‘Gulf of America’
The White House’s retaliation stems from AP’s refusal to adopt Trump’s recent executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America.’
President Donald Trump directly linked the press ban to the AP’s editorial stance, stating on Tuesday:
“We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America.”
While some media outlets, including Fox News, have adopted the new terminology, others—such as The New York Times and The Washington Post—continue using the traditional name. Google Maps has also begun displaying “Gulf of America” for U.S. users.
News Organizations Defend AP, Warn of Press Freedoms at Risk
In response to the press ban, 40 major news organizations, including Fox News and Newsmax, signed a White House Correspondents’ Association letter urging the Trump administration to restore AP’s access.
Newsmax, a network often supportive of Trump, issued a statement:
“We understand President Trump’s frustration with the media, but Newsmax supports AP’s right as a private organization to use the language it chooses. We fear a future administration may not like something Newsmax writes and seek to ban us.”
White House Defends Decision, Calls AP ‘Radical Left Lunatics’
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move during an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), stating:
“We’re going to ensure that truth and accuracy are present at the White House every single day.”
In a radio interview with Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, Trump dismissed the lawsuit and attacked AP, calling the news organization:
“A third-rate outfit with a first-rate name… radical left lunatics who want to be cute instead of accurate.”
AP Stylebook Becomes a Political Target
The lawsuit also reveals that White House officials specifically targeted the AP Stylebook, which influences journalistic standards worldwide.
In an email to the AP, Susan Wiles expressed hope that the administration’s name change would be reflected in AP’s editorial guidelines, particularly “where American audiences are concerned.”
Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich also criticized past AP Stylebook decisions, including its:
- Capitalization of “Black” but not “white” in racial references
- Guidance on gender-affirming medical care
- Policy against using the term “illegal immigrants”
The Trump administration has also recently moved to reinstate “Mount McKinley” as the official name of Denali, which AP has acknowledged in its Stylebook.
What’s Next?
With the lawsuit now before Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump nominee, the case could set a major legal precedent for press freedom in the United States.
As media organizations and press freedom advocates rally around AP, the legal battle may determine whether the White House can dictate how journalists report on government policy—or punish them for refusing to comply.
