The Trump administration has escalated tensions with the Associated Press (AP) by barring its reporters from White House events after the agency declined to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America,' as mandated by the president's executive order. This action has faced widespread criticism, with AP asserting that such measures threaten First Amendment rights. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the restrictions, claiming that AP’s refusal to comply warrants punitive action. The move has raised concerns among press freedom advocates, labeling it as censorship and intimidation that undermines independent media.