US Judge Rules in Favor of AP Journalists' Access to White House Events

District Judge Trevor McFadden determined that the Trump administration's actions violated the First Amendment, highlighting the importance of free speech within the media.

A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to allow the Associated Press (AP) to resume its access to White House events, following a contentious dispute over the administration's terminology referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” District Judge Trevor McFadden stated on Tuesday that blocking AP journalists from attending these events was a violation of their First Amendment rights, which protect free speech.

This legal contention began after the AP refused to comply with an executive order from President Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico. Following this refusal, the White House limited the AP's access, preventing reporters from attending both presidential events and Air Force One flights.

Judge McFadden’s ruling, which temporarily pauses its enforcement pending potential appeal from administration lawyers, emphasized that if the government opens its press events to some journalists, it cannot exclude others based on differing viewpoints. "The Constitution requires no less," he stated in his ruling.

In response to the ruling, Lauren Easton, an AP spokesperson, expressed relief at the decision, noting its affirmation of the press's right to operate freely and without governmental retaliation. This sentiment was shared by several advocacy groups, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, which commended the judgment as a well-reasoned assessment of the AP's exclusion.

The AP filed suit against three senior officials from the Trump administration, asserting that their access was unlawfully restricted due to language disagreements over the Gulf's name. The Trump administration defended its actions by arguing that the Associated Press was not owed any "special access" to the president. Despite the administration's attempts to rebrand the area, the AP has announced it will continue using the original name, Gulf of Mexico, recognizing the Trump administration's stance yet standing firm on its journalistic principles.