The White House and the Associated Press (AP) are embroiled in a contentious dispute over the naming of a prominent body of water. The disagreement centers on the AP's decision not to adopt the name "Gulf of America" instead of the traditional "Gulf of Mexico" in its stylebook. President Donald Trump has suggested that the AP should use the term "Gulf of America," and as a result, has imposed restrictions on the AP's access to key presidential venues.
The Associated Press has declined to comply with Trump's suggestion, maintaining its use of "Gulf of Mexico" in its reporting. In response, Trump announced plans to exclude the AP from the White House "until such time as they agree that it's the Gulf of America." Consequently, the AP is now barred from accessing the president in the Oval Office and onboard Air Force One.
The White House argues that access to the president is a privilege rather than a legal right. This position has prompted the AP to challenge the ban in court, describing it as a "constitutional problem." However, a federal judge ruled against immediately restoring the AP's access, stating that the news organization had not demonstrated any irreparable harm.
The dispute has further implications within the media landscape, as the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) also finds itself in a disagreement with the administration. The White House is reportedly attempting to take control of the press pool away from the WHCA, altering longstanding arrangements.
Adding to the media shakeup, Kari Lake, a former broadcaster and Republican politician, estimated significant financial savings by moving to a new news organization. She remarked:
“We should not be paying outside news organizations to tell us what the news is” – Kari Lake
In alignment with this sentiment, the Voice of America (VoA) has initiated steps to terminate contracts with major wire services, including the AP, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. VoA has instructed its journalists to cease using material from these wire services.
The ongoing tension between the White House and media organizations underscores broader concerns about press freedom and governmental influence over media narratives. Charles Tobin, a legal representative involved in the case, commented on the situation:
“We’re not arguing that the president of the United States has to answer the Associated Press’s questions,” – Charles Tobin