White House Bans Associated Press from Oval Office & Air Force One

Press Freedom Concerns Rise as AP Faces Indefinite Ban for Defying Government’s Name Change

Washington, DC [US], February 15: The White House has indefinitely banned The Associated Press (AP) from covering events inside the Oval Office and traveling aboard Air Force One, citing the agency’s refusal to adopt the administration’s official renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The decision has sparked outrage among journalists and free speech advocates, with AP reportedly preparing a legal challenge, as per a CNN report.

---

AP Banned for Defying “Gulf of America” Name Change

In January 2025, President Donald Trump’s administration announced a government-wide renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, stating that all federal agencies must adopt the change. However, the new designation has not been recognized internationally, and several global news agencies, including AP, have continued to use “Gulf of Mexico.”

Despite other news outlets also resisting the change, the White House specifically targeted AP, barring its reporters from covering presidential events. AP photographers were allowed access, but reporters were denied entry to high-profile engagements.

Adding to the crackdown, AP journalists were also prohibited from traveling aboard Air Force One during President Trump’s Friday departure to Mar-a-Lago, further limiting their coverage of the administration.

---

White House Defends Move, Calls AP’s Decision “Divisive”

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), accusing AP of spreading misinformation by refusing to acknowledge the name change.

“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,” Budowich stated.

He further justified the ban, arguing that while the First Amendment protects AP’s right to publish, it does not guarantee them unrestricted access to presidential spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One.

“Going forward, that space will now be opened up to the many thousands of reporters who have been barred from covering these intimate areas of the administration,” he added.

Despite the ban, AP journalists and photographers will retain their credentials to access the White House complex.

---

Journalistic Community Condemns White House Decision

The ban on AP’s participation in “pooled” events—where designated reporters cover presidential activities and share information with other news outlets—has raised concerns about press freedom in the US.

A senior AP employee, speaking anonymously to CNN, criticized the decision as “a clear case of viewpoint discrimination.”

The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which represents the press corps, strongly condemned the move, calling it a violation of the First Amendment and a contradiction to Trump’s own executive order on freedom of speech.

“This is a textbook violation of not only the First Amendment but the president’s own executive order on freedom of speech and ending federal censorship,” WHCA said in a statement.

---

AP Prepares Legal Action

The Associated Press has indicated that it is preparing a legal challenge against the White House’s decision. Media watchdog groups and press freedom advocates have also voiced concerns, warning that restricting access to the nation’s most prominent news agency sets a dangerous precedent.

As tensions between the Trump administration and mainstream media continue to escalate, the impact of this move on press freedom and White House transparency remains a critical issue in US politics.

---

📌 Tags:

White House press ban, Associated Press controversy, Gulf of America renaming, Trump administration, press freedom violation, First Amendment rights, media censorship, journalism ethics, political news, AP legal challenge