The Trump administration has escalated its restrictions on The Associated Press (AP), barring its reporters from key White House events and preventing its journalist from traveling on Air Force One, according to Politico.
White House blocks AP access
The feud began after AP refused to recognize Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” Since Tuesday, the administration has blocked AP reporters from Oval Office events and a joint press conference between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Taylor Budowich, defended the restrictions, accusing AP of spreading “misinformation” and stating that the administration was prioritizing access for “thousands of reporters who have been barred from covering these intimate areas of the administration.” While AP reporters have been excluded, AP photographers were still granted access, though this may also change soon.
Air Force One travel restriction
On Friday, the administration appeared to bar AP from boarding Air Force One, just hours before Trump was scheduled to fly to West Palm Beach, Florida. The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which oversees press access to the president, has called this move a violation of the First Amendment and Trump’s own executive order on free speech and federal censorship.
AP traditionally holds a permanent pool rotation seat, covering presidential travel and closed-door events. However, it remains unclear which media outlet, if any, will replace AP in the White House press pool.
Press secretary invites pro-Trump outlets
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has invited newer and more pro-Trump media organizations to apply for White House credentials, favouring outlets that are more supportive of the administration. Both she and Trump have actively engaged with these outlets, often fielding flattering questions rather than critical inquiries.
Reactions from AP and WHCA
The AP has condemned the decision, calling it a “plain violation of the First Amendment” and arguing that restricting access to a nonpartisan wire service undermines public trust in the government. The WHCA president, Eugene Daniels, also denounced the restrictions as “outrageous” and “deeply disappointing”.
Daniels warned that the administration’s move constitutes viewpoint discrimination, stating: “The White House is restricting access to punish a news outlet for not advancing the government’s preferred language.” He reaffirmed that “a free press is fundamental to American democracy” and called for the immediate restoration of AP’s press access.
The road ahead
As media tensions rise under the Trump administration, the battle over press access is likely to continue shaping the White House’s relationship with journalists. Whether AP will regain its full access remains uncertain, Politico concludes.
