- Reporter Granted White House Access Restored by Judge
Looks like the Associated Press (AP) will once again have access to the White House after a recent court ruling. Here's the lowdown on this ongoing saga.
This all stems from a disagreement about a name - "Gulf of America." In an attempt to make things official, President Trump had mandated the use of this new term in media reports. The AP, however, decided to stick with the traditional name, "Gulf of Mexico." As a result, AP journalists were cut off from White House events and denied access to Air Force One.
Fed up with the restrictions, the AP took the matter to court, and on Tuesday (local time), U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, sided with the news agency. Judge McFadden's ruling was simple - the government can't turn its back on certain journalists just because they don't toe the line on terminology while opening doors to others.
The AP's stance on the name dates back over 400 years, and the Gulf of Mexico is widely recognized as it borders several U.S. states, as well as Mexico and Cuba. Trump, however, made a decree to change the name to "Gulf of America." This new name can be seen on Google Maps, but it's not recognized universally.
Criticism poured in from European news agencies and press freedom advocates over the restrictions placed upon the AP. The Associated Press is a globally prominent news agency, and its exclusion from important events raised concerns about freedom of the press.
Now, the White House government has until April 13 to decide whether or not to appeal the judge's decision. With this court ruling, it seems we're one step closer to a more open White House and a victory for press freedom.
- Associated Press
- White House
- Donald Trump
- Gulf of Mexico
- The Associated Press (AP) will once again have access to the White House following a court ruling that favored free press over the "Gulf of America" debate initiated by President Donald Trump.
- During the controversy, AP journalists were denied access to White House events and Air Force One due to their refusal to use the new term, "Gulf of America."
- The federal court ruled that the government cannot bar certain journalists, like those from the AP, simply because they do not conform to the administration's preferred terminology while granting access to others.
