TYB
Taylor Budowich
The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the 'Gulf of America.' This decision is not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press' commitment to misinformation. While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One. Going forward, that space will now be opened up to the many thousands of reporters who have been barred from covering these intimate areas of the administration. Associate Press journalists and photographers will retain their credentials to the White House complex.
12:30 PM · Feb 14, 2025·1.3M Views
https://x.com/Taylor47/status/1890453490398326919
White House moves to further ban the Associated Press due to its refusal to use 'Gulf of America'
By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House
On Friday the White House further moved to curb the Associated Press' access over the wire service's refusal to change AP style from the Gulf of Mexico to President Donald Trump's preferred 'Gulf of America.'
Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich charged on X that the AP was ignoring 'the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America.'
'This decision is not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press' commitment to misinformation,' Budowich wrote. 'While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One.'
The White House banned the AP from going into 'pooled' events in the Oval Office this week and from Thursday's press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was open to the broader White House press corps.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to call on the AP - which traditionally gets the first question - during her sole briefing of the week on Wednesday.
The president was received reporters in the Oval Office Friday afternoon before traveling to Mar-a-Lago for the weekend.
AP's reporter and photographer were barred from entry and their reporter at Joint Base Andrews was told she wouldn't be allowed to travel on board Air Force One.
The AP would typically have access to both the Oval Office Q&A and the Air Force One trip down to West Palm Beach.
It's one of the permanent wire services that are always part of the presidential 'pool,' the group of reporters that follow the president - a tradition that started after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14397233/donald-trump-live-updates-russia-ukraine.html