Special Poll
The Associated Press (AP) filed a lawsuit on Friday against three officials in the Trump administration, alleging that they were blocking AP reporters from covering events such as Oval Office meetings and Air Force One press pools, which the organization claims is a violation of First Amendment rights.
Legal experts believe that Trump’s previous attempts to restrict press access during his first administration did not hold up in court, and the same constitutional principles should apply to this case. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, names White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and chief of staff Susie Wiles as defendants.
In its complaint, the AP accuses the White House of pressuring it to use certain terminology in its reporting or risk being indefinitely barred from White House coverage. The lawsuit argues that the government cannot control speech or retaliate against the press without violating the Constitution and warns that allowing such retaliation to continue would threaten the freedoms of all Americans. The AP is asking the court to immediately stop the White House’s actions and restore the agency’s access to restricted areas like the Oval Office and Air Force One.
The dispute escalated after the White House banned AP reporters from covering pool events, citing the outlet’s refusal to use Trump’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico, “Gulf of America.” The AP responded that it would continue to use the traditional name, which has been in place for over 400 years, while also acknowledging the new designation Trump has introduced.
Major news organizations—including conservative outlets Newsmax and Fox News, as well as ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, The New York Times, and Axios—signed a joint letter urging the White House to rescind the ban and restore AP’s access.
The legal battle comes amid increased scrutiny of the press by the Trump administration. The Defense Department announced on Friday that it would close the Pentagon briefing room to journalists when no briefings are in session. This follows recent restrictions on Pentagon media offices.
Other actions targeting the media include FCC investigations into major networks such as Comcast, NBC, CBS, PBS, and NPR, as well as a Congressional hearing focused on NPR and PBS. The ongoing disputes reflect a broader effort by the administration to tighten control over media coverage and influence how news organizations report on government affairs.