The AP news agency, which faced reporting restrictions from the White House for refusing to change the term “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America,” requested a temporary injunction to lift these restrictions, but the court rejected this request.
On the 24th, local time, Judge Trevor McFadden of the Washington D.C. District Court dismissed AP’s request to restore its reporting privileges, according to U.S. media reports.
On the 21st, AP filed a lawsuit against three senior White House officials—Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles, Deputy Assistant to the President Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt—seeking to lift the reporting restrictions, but the court sided with the White House in the temporary injunction stage.
Judge McFadden explained that AP did not prove it had suffered irreparable harm, and stated that he would proceed with the lawsuit hearing “with an open mind” promptly.
Judge McFadden was appointed during Trump’s first term in office.
Previously, on Inauguration Day, January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, but AP stated it would continue using the historically recognized term, Gulf of Mexico, which has been in official use for over 400 years.
In response, the White House banned AP reporters and photographers from covering events in the Oval Office and Air Force One.
AP, in its lawsuit, argued that the White House’s reporting restrictions are an unconstitutional attempt to control the press, claiming that the attack on AP’s news production and editorial independence violates the core of the First Amendment.
On the other hand, the White House argued that the Oval Office and Air Force One are “personal working spaces and aircraft of President Trump” and that constitutional rights do not apply to everyone in these spaces.
Following the court’s ruling, the White House issued a statement labeled “A Victory for the Trump White House over AP,” declaring, “As we have always said, asking questions to the U.S. President in the Oval Office and Air Force One is a privilege given to journalists, not a legal right.”
Additionally, the White House stated, “We support our decision to hold fake news accountable, and President Trump will continue to provide the press with unprecedented access. The Trump administration is the most transparent in history.”
Notably, the White House displayed the words “VICTORY” along with a map of the Gulf of America on the screen in the White House briefing room.
[Photo source: AFP=Yonhap News]
■ Contact Us
▷ Phone: 02-781-1234, 4444
▷ Email: [email protected]
▷ KakaoTalk: Search ‘KBS제보’ and add the channel
▷ Subscribe to KBS News on Naver and YouTube!