Donald Trump is celebrating what he views as a victory after a federal appeals court ruled that his administration can temporarily bar the Associated Press (AP) from covering certain White House events. The decision stems from the AP’s refusal to adopt the term “Gulf of America,” as mandated by Trump’s executive order, instead of the traditional “Gulf of Mexico.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 decision, lifting a lower court’s injunction that had previously protected the AP’s access. The majority opinion, authored by Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas, both appointed by Trump, asserted that spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One are not public forums and thus the administration has discretion over press access to these areas.
In response to the ruling, Trump took to Truth Social, declaring a “Big WIN over AP today,” and criticized the news agency for “refus[ing] to state the facts or the Truth on the GULF OF AMERICA.”
The AP has expressed disappointment with the court’s decision and is reviewing its legal options. The organization maintains that the name “Gulf of Mexico” has been in use for over 400 years and is recognized internationally.
This ruling underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and traditional media outlets, raising concerns about press freedom and the potential for viewpoint-based discrimination in media access to government events.
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