The Trump administration announced Friday that it has indefinitely banned the Associated Press (AP) from accessing the Oval Office and Air Force One.
The move comes after the AP continued to use the term “Gulf of Mexico” despite President Donald Trump’s decision last month to officially rename the body of water the “Gulf of America,” CNN reported.
Although the new name is in effect within U.S. government agencies, it has not been adopted internationally, prompting the AP and other global news outlets to retain the traditional name.
In a statement on X, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich criticized the AP’s reporting as “divisive” and argued that it “exposes the Associated Press’ commitment to misinformation.”
Budowich added, “While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One.”
He noted that while AP photographers will continue to have access to the White House complex, the reporters are now excluded from pooled events such as Air Force One flights.
The press pool, which follows the president at all times, is integral to White House coverage and shares information with the broader press corps. The AP has been a foundational member of this pool since its inception in 1881.
The Associated Press has indicated that it is preparing a legal challenge against the ban, with one staffer calling the action “a clearer case of viewpoint discrimination.”
The White House Correspondents Association, which oversees the press pool, condemned the decision, describing it as a “textbook violation” of the First Amendment and President Trump’s own executive order on freedom of speech and ending federal censorship.
The AP has not yet responded to a request for comment on the matter.
