Special Poll
President Trump stated on Tuesday that he will continue to restrict the Associated Press’ access to the White House until they agree to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
Trump has taken aim at the AP over its refusal to adopt the new terminology, as part of a broader Republican critique of the news organization’s language guidelines on topics such as race, gender, and immigration. In response, the White House has limited AP reporters’ access to both press briefings and Air Force One.
During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump reiterated his stance, saying, “The Associated Press just refuses to go with what the law is and what has taken place. It’s called the ‘Gulf of America’ now.” He added, “It’s not called the Gulf of Mexico any longer. … We’re going to keep them out until they agree.”
A spokesperson for the AP, Lauren Easton, responded to Trump’s remarks, criticizing the White House’s decision to restrict access. “This is about the government telling the public and the press what words to use and retaliating if they do not comply,” she said.
Easton also emphasized the AP’s longstanding role in covering presidential administrations, stating, “The Associated Press has provided critical and independent coverage of the White House for over 100 years.”