A judge rules in the AP case against Trump

This news agency has been banned from presidential events for two months since its refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico the ‘Gulf of America’, renamed by a decree signed by Trump.

District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, appointed by President Donald Trump, ruled on April 8 that the government cannot punish the press agency for the way it expresses itself.

«Under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists–be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere–it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints, The Constitution requires no less», Judge McFadden said.

«We are gratified by the court’s decision. Today’s ruling affirms the fundamental right of the press and public to speak freely without government retaliation. This is a freedom guaranteed for all Americans in the U.S. Constitution», then reacted AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton. 

The AP was excluded from the Oval Office and the presidential plane Air Force One in February. The agency has the occasional opportunity to cover events in the East Room.

In the case filed on February 21, the AP sued Ms. Leavitt, the White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and the deputy chief of staff, Taylor Budowich.

Trump confirmed an appeal and previously said that the Associated Press was composed of «radical left lunatics» and that the White House is «going to keep them out until such time as they agree it’s the Gulf of America.»

The AP news agency employs more than 3000 people across the world. It has published more than 375 000 articles, 1.24 million photos and 80 000 videos, according to numbers published in 2023.

This exclusion of the AP is part of an offensive that Trump is leading against the media since his return to the presidency.

The administration has among other things laid off staff of public media operating abroad funded by American funds, such as Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia. It also threatens to remove its funding from public broadcasters PBS and NPR. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also taken action against ABC, CBS, and NBC News.