Appeals court upholds White House's prohibition on Associated Press communications
A Huddle Over Press Access: The Feds Give the White House a Green Light
In a twist of events, the Associated Press (AP) might soon find themselves on the outside looking in, as the federal appeals court has given the green light for the White House to deny them access to some high-security areas like the Oval Office, Mar-a-Lago, and Air Force One.
This ruling, penned by U.S. Circuit Judge Neomi Rao, emphasizes that these areas aren't open to the general public or the press, allowing the White House to pick and choose which journalists they grant access to. The lower court previously blocked this move, but the appeals court has sided with the White House this time around.
The decision's repercussions could ripple through the White House press corps and their access to the president. The Oval Office, far from a typical public forum like a park or sidewalk, is a heavily guarded location where speech and discussion aren't encouraged, according to Rao.
Noteworthily, the split 2-1 decision didn't include the AP's exclusion from the larger East Room space. The AP has accused the White House of discriminating against them due to their editorial style guide, refusing to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, as per President Donald Trump's directive.
This ruling reinforces the fact that the government can manage press access based on location, security, and the context of speech rather than the viewpoint of the press outlet. The administration retains the right to limit AP access to sensitive or restricted areas like the Oval Office, Mar-a-Lago, and Air Force One, as they are classified as government properties where access can be controlled.
On the other hand, the Pentagon has seen a similar trend of press access restrictions at other government locations. For instance, Pentagon press access is relegated to areas requiring escort and approved credentials, reflecting broader security measures implemented across various government agencies.
Moreover, the White House stopped providing American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters during press briefings since early 2025, leading to lawsuits from advocacy groups demanding accessible communication during these important events[1][2][3].
The ruling on press access, influenced by politics and policy-and-legislation, has allowed the White House to restrict the AP's access to sensitive areas, such as the Oval Office, Mar-a-Lago, and Air Force One, amid war-and-conflicts over media rights. Furthermore, this decision, which falls under general-news, also signals a pattern of access restrictions in government locations, extending to the Pentagon and beyond.
