Judge Denies AP's Access Appeal in Trump Administration Lawsuit Over Media Restrictions
A federal judge denied an emergency request from AP for White House access amidst a dispute over Trump’s naming of the Gulf of America.
It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism.
Judge denies emergency motion from Associated Press demanding access to White House
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The White House banned AP reporters in response, preventing the AP’s journalists from seeing and hearing Trump and other top White House officials as they take newsworthy actions or respond in real time to news events.
US judge allows Trump’s AP Oval Office ban to stand over Gulf of Mexico name
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The decision came as a surprise — with the AP widely expected by the White House press corps to be favored to win the initial ruling in the standoff triggered by the organization’s refusal to change its style guide to identify the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” after Trump changed the official US name.
Trump wins first round of AP lawsuit over news organization’s exclusion from White House events
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The ruling comes after the White House asked the judge to allow it to continue barring the AP from some press events.
Judge upholds Trump's right to block AP for now
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McFadden warned the government’s attorney to reconsider its position, saying case law in this circuit is uniformly unhelpful to the White House.
Judge won't immediately restore Associated Press' access to White House
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The lawsuit named White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, press secretary Karoline Leavitt and deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich as defendants.
Judge leaves Trump's ban on the Associated Press in place—for now
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The AP also waited 10 days to file their case, McFadden noted.
Trump administration does not have to allow The Associated Press access yet, judge rules
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The tweet drew swift and sharp condemnation from a wide swath of commentators, pointing out the grammar error — it should have said “President Trump’s lawyers,” not “President Trumps’ lawyers” — and more importantly, the constitutional conflict with that phrase, regardless of whether or not Martin got the punctuation right.
‘This Is Poisonous’: Statement From Trump’s US Attorney Attacking AP Sparks Swift Bipartisan Fury
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Summary
The Associated Press' request to restore access to the White House was rejected by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who sought more details surrounding the ban on AP reporters. The White House, defending its actions as within presidential discretion, argued that access to the president is a privilege rather than a right, while AP contends that the ban violates First Amendment rights. The dispute arose after the AP continued using 'Gulf of Mexico,' conflicting with Trump's directive naming it 'Gulf of America.' The next hearing is set for March 20.
Perspectives
A federal judge recently declined the Associated Press’ request for immediate reinstatement of access to presidential events, acknowledging the need for further exploration of the case while also indicating that applicable law may not support the White House's position. This development highlights the ongoing tension between press access and executive discretion in media relations.
The ruling has emerged as a temporary win for the White House amidst criticism that targeting the AP could set a concerning precedent for press freedom and independent journalism in the United States. The White House insists that access to presidential events is a privilege, not a right, and argues that this standard applies universally across media outlets, not just to the AP.
The AP's ongoing lawsuit against the White House raises important questions about the implications of restricting access based on editorial decisions, particularly given the AP's influential role in shaping news language and narratives through its extensive Stylebook.
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