White House Bars AP From Oval Office Over Gulf of Mexico Standards

The Associated Press has been barred from accessing the Oval Office after the White House threatened to restrict its access due to its refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America,' following President Trump's executive order. AP Executive Editor Julie Pace condemned the action, stating it violates the First Amendment and impedes the public's access to independent journalism. Press freedom advocates, including PEN America and the National Press Club, have called the move an attack on press freedom, arguing that no administration should dictate how journalists operate. The controversy arose after Trump signed an order renaming the Gulf, prompting AP to maintain its original naming in its style guide while acknowledging the new title. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the media and the Trump administration, particularly regarding freedom of expression and editorial independence. Critics of the administration's actions view it as an escalation in a broader pattern of hostility toward the press.