The Associated Press (AP) has taken legal action against three Trump administration officials, arguing that their journalists are being unfairly blocked from presidential events.
The lawsuit, filed in a U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., claims that these restrictions violate the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press.
The lawsuit comes after the White House began restricting AP reporters’ access to press events, including those at Mar-a-Lago and onboard Air Force One.
The reason? The AP refused to adopt President Donald Trump’s preferred terminology—changing “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America.”
AP argues that the government should not have the power to dictate how journalists report the news. The lawsuit states:
The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government.
Who Is Named in the Lawsuit?
The lawsuit names three high-profile Trump administration officials:
- Susan Wiles – White House Chief of Staff
- Taylor Budowich – Deputy Chief of Staff
- Karoline Leavitt – White House Press Secretary
AP claims that these officials are directly responsible for the press restrictions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the lawsuit, saying she believes the administration is in the right.
We’re going to ensure that truth and accuracy are present at the White House every single day.
Meanwhile, Trump defended the decision, stating:
We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America.
The White House Correspondents’ Association, along with 40 other media outlets—including Fox News and Newsmax—have called for the White House to reverse its decision.
Even some pro-Trump media outlets expressed concerns about the potential consequences of banning journalists.
Newsmax released a statement:
We understand President Trump’s frustration, but Newsmax still supports AP’s right, as a private organization, to use the language it wants in its reporting. We fear a future administration may not like something Newsmax writes and seek to ban us.
The case will be overseen by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump-appointed judge. Legal experts say the case could set an important precedent for press freedom in the United States.
With the First Amendment at the center of the debate, this lawsuit is not just about AP—it’s about the right of all journalists to report freely without government interference.
The outcome of this case could impact how future administrations interact with the media.
Clark is a 26-year-old expert working for consumer protection, Clark has dedicated years to identifying and exposing fraudulent schemes. He is working with NGOs to help people who are victims of scams. In his free time, Todd plays football or goes to a bar.
