White House bars AP from Air Force One in Gulf naming dispute
Air Force One carrying US President lands at Yokota Air Base in Fussa, Tokyo prefecture on May 22, 2022. (AFP Photo)
The Trump administration escalated its confrontation with The Associated Press on Friday, barring the news organization’s journalists from Air Force One after previously restricting their access to Oval Office events in a dispute over the naming of the Gulf of Mexico.
The White House Deputy Chief of Staff announced the expanded restrictions on Twitter, saying AP’s continued use of the traditional name instead of “Gulf of America” demonstrates “commitment to misinformation.” While AP reporters will maintain their general White House credentials, the administration said it would redistribute their access to “intimate areas” to other journalists.
The move marks an unprecedented expansion of press restrictions that began Tuesday when AP reporters were blocked from an Oval Office executive order signing and a subsequent event in the Diplomatic Reception Room.
“It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism,” said Julie Pace, AP’s executive editor, in response to the initial restrictions. “Limiting our access based on the content of AP’s speech not only severely impedes the public’s access to independent news, it plainly violates the First Amendment.”
United States government dispute with Associated Press
The dispute stems from AP’s editorial decision to maintain the traditional name “Gulf of Mexico” — a body of water named over 400 years ago that borders both the United States and Mexico — while noting the administration’s ordered change in its reporting.
Major technology platforms have already begun adapting to the administration’s position. Google Maps has implemented the new name, citing its policy of following U.S. government conventions, while Apple Maps showed varying usage across its platforms by Tuesday evening.
The White House Correspondents Association condemned the escalating restrictions. “The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors’ decision,” said Eugene Daniels, WHCA’s president.
