The Associated Press is pushing back after one of its journalists was barred from the White House for not using the term “Gulf of America”—the controversial new name for the Gulf of Mexico.
The AP reporter had planned to cover two events but was denied entry by White House officials.
This follows President Donald Trump’s executive order, signed on his first day in office, which officially renamed the Gulf, citing its “flourishing economic resource and critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people.”
Despite the order, the AP instructs its journalists to continue using the Gulf’s historical name while noting the rebranding. The updated AP Stylebook entry states: “The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. Refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen.”
The AP also emphasizes that Trump’s order holds authority only within the United States, clarifying: “Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, do not have to recognize the name change.”
AP’s Executive Editor, Julie Pace, sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, expressing strong opposition to a journalist being denied access.
According to the letter, which was shared with NPR, White House chief spokesperson Karoline Leavitt allegedly warned the AP reporter that entry to the Oval Office would be restricted unless they immediately adopted Trump’s newly designated name for the Gulf.
Pace stated: **”The actions taken by the White House were plainly intended to punish the AP for the content of its speech.
“It is among the most basic tenets of the First Amendment that the government cannot retaliate against the public or the press for what they say.”**
She further emphasized that the AP would “vigorously defend its constitutional rights and protest the infringement on the public’s right to independent news coverage of their government and elected officials.”
However, Leavitt appeared unfazed, telling reporters: **”It is a privilege to cover this White House.
“Nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask the president of the United States questions. That’s an invitation that is given.”**
She continued: **”I was very upfront in my briefing on day one that if we feel that there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable.
“And it is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America. And I’m not sure why news outlets don’t want to call it that.”**
The AP reporter who was barred from coverage had been attempting to report on an event where Trump and Elon Musk discussed their planned cuts to the federal government under Musk’s DOGE initiative.
Later, they were also denied access to an event featuring a U.S. prisoner recently released by Russia.
The Associated Press wire service—part of the so-called ‘press pool’ in political reporting—serves as a key news source for media outlets worldwide, and its style guide is widely recognized as an industry standard.
