President Donald Trump reaffirmed on Tuesday that he will continue to restrict Associated Press (AP) journalists from accessing the White House until the news organization agrees to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." Speaking from his estate in Florida, Trump stated, "We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America."
The White House has blocked AP reporters from Air Force One and the Oval Office, citing the agency's refusal to comply with the name change that Trump insists is now the official designation. Trump emphasized, "It’s called the Gulf of America now. It’s not called the Gulf of Mexico any longer."
In response, AP editor-in-chief Julie Pace criticized the administration's actions as a violation of the agency’s free speech rights, calling it a "disservice" to those who depend on unbiased news. AP pointed out in a recent style note that the Gulf of Mexico has been named as such for over 400 years and argued that Trump's executive order applies only within the United States.
The White House Correspondents' Association condemned the exclusion of AP journalists, calling it "outrageous" and warning that it could set a dangerous precedent for press freedom. The group’s president, Eugene Daniels, expressed concern that such government censorship could undermine journalistic independence.
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