On April 8, 2025, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden ordered the Trump administration to restore The Associated Press’s (AP) access to White House events, ruling that the exclusion violated the First Amendment. The administration had barred AP journalists after the news agency continued to refer to the “Gulf of Mexico” rather than adopting President Trump’s preferred term, “Gulf of America.”
Judge McFadden emphasized that the government cannot exclude journalists based on their viewpoints, stating, “Under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists… it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints.”
The AP had filed a lawsuit in February 2025, arguing that the White House’s actions were retaliatory and infringed upon press freedoms. The court’s decision mandates that the AP be treated equally to other media outlets, ensuring its inclusion in press events such as those held in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One. While the ruling is a significant affirmation of press rights, Judge McFadden stayed his order until April 13 to allow the administration time to appeal.
