In yet another example of what many conservatives think is a judiciary that is quite severely biased against the Trump Administration, a United States District Court judge has ordered the Trump Administration to allow the Associated Press (AP) back into the White House Briefing Room.
As background, the AP was originally removed from the White House Briefing Room, and thus from live access to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s daily press briefings, when it refused to refer to the Gulf of America as such, instead preferring the pre-Trump “Gulf of Mexico” moniker for the body of water. The Trump Administration had made clear that refusal to use “Gulf of America” would result in a news outlet being removed from the White House press pool, and so the AP was removed.
Explaining at the time why it refused to use the Trump-preferred terminology, the AP said that it wouldn’t change a centuries-old name just to please the president. As Fox News Digital reported, it said, “The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen. As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.”
Firing back at the outlet at around the same time, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich wrote, in a post on X, “The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America. This decision is not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press’ commitment to misinformation.”
Continuing, Mr. Budowich noted that though the AP had the First Amendment right to say whatever it wanted, it had no right to the White House press pool and so would be removed until it changed its terminology. He said, “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.”
The matter then went to court, and U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden ruled that the White House had to allow the AP back into the briefing room and press pool, claiming that the First Amendment required the White House to not engage in viewpoint discrimination when determining who to allow into the press pool.
The judge, a Trump appointee, ruled, as the AP reported, “Under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists—be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere—it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints.” He added, “The Constitution requires no less.”
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Celebrating the decision, AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton said, as the AP also reported, “We are gratified by the court’s decision. Today’s ruling affirms the fundamental right of the press and public to speak freely without government retaliation. This is a freedom guaranteed for all Americans in the U.S. Constitution.”
Watch Karoline Leavitt comment on the decision to exclude the AP reporter:
COLLINS: Which White House official made the decision to bar the AP reporter?
LEAVITT: It is a privilege to cover this WH
C: Isn’t this retaliatory?
LEAVITT: It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America pic.twitter.com/5gxGborPgs— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 12, 2025