WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - On Monday, a federal judge denied a request by the Associated Press (AP) to immediately restore full access for its journalists after the White House barred them due to their continued reference to the Gulf of Mexico in coverage. This decision comes amidst ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the media.
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, appointed by President Donald Trump, rejected the AP's plea for a temporary injunction. This injunction sought to restore access to critical areas including the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other events hosted at the White House. McFadden noted that the restriction on these more private areas used by the president was distinct from previous cases where courts have intervened to protect journalists' access.
"I can't say the AP has shown a likelihood of success here," McFadden stated during the court hearing, adding that the situation appeared discriminatory against the AP based on their coverage choices. He set an expedited schedule to consider a longer-term order in the case, acknowledging that the situation seemed "problematic."
Following the ruling, the White House issued a statement emphasizing that access to the President of the United States for questions in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One is a privilege for journalists, not a legal right. This stance underscores the ongoing debate about press freedom under the current administration.
A spokesperson for the AP expressed the agency's commitment to defending the rights of the press and the public to communicate freely without fear of government retaliation. The AP's lawsuit against three senior Trump aides argues that blocking its reporters violates the First Amendment, which protects against government abridgment of speech by attempting to dictate language used in news reporting.
Charles Tobin, a lawyer representing the AP, articulated during a court hearing that the Constitution safeguards against any government official coercing journalists into adopting official government language for reporting. Conversely, lawyers for the Trump administration contended that the AP does not possess a constitutional right to special media access to the president.
"They do not have a constitutional right to continue that access in perpetuity," stated Brian Hudak, a Justice Department lawyer defending the Trump officials. The lawsuit identifies three White House officials as defendants: Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. While Leavitt expressed confidence in their position, Wiles and Budowich did not respond to requests for comment.
The controversy intensified after President Trump signed an executive order last month, directing the U.S. Interior Department to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." In response, the AP declared in January that it would continue to use the gulf's traditional name, while also acknowledging Trump's renaming efforts. This decision led to the White House banning AP reporters from accessing key areas, limiting their ability to report on the president and other top officials in real-time.
The White House Correspondents' Association, in a legal brief supporting the AP's case, argued that the ban could suppress and distort news coverage of the president, ultimately harming the public's right to information. Reuters also issued a statement in support of the AP.
This ongoing legal battle highlights the critical tension between the Trump administration and the media, raising significant concerns about press freedom and the rights of journalists in the United States.
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Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Additional reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Scott Malone, Will Dunham, Chizu Nomiyama, and Nia Williams
