Judge Orders White House to Restore Full Access to Associated Press Amid First Amendment Dispute

Washington, D.C., April 8, 2025 — A federal judge has ordered the White House to reinstate full access for Associated Press (AP) journalists to presidential events and venues, following a dispute over the agency's refusal to adopt the administration’s preferred terminology for a geographical region.

The ruling, issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden — an appointee of President Donald Trump — mandates that the AP be granted access to the Oval Office, Air Force One, and all relevant White House events. The decision comes as the AP’s lawsuit against three senior Trump administration officials proceeds in court.

The controversy stems from the administration’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” According to the court’s findings, the White House “sharply curtailed” the AP’s access after the agency continued to use the historically accepted name in its coverage.

“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,” Judge McFadden wrote in a 41-page opinion. “The Constitution requires no less.”

The AP filed suit in February, arguing that the restrictions imposed by the Trump administration violated First Amendment protections by attempting to influence editorial decisions and suppress independent reporting.

The White House has countered that the AP is not entitled to what it termed “special access” and that participation in select press events is not guaranteed.

The dispute traces back to President Trump’s first day in office during his second term, when he signed an executive order directing the Department of the Interior to formally adopt the name “Gulf of America” in official communications and government maps.

In response, the AP maintained its editorial independence. “We will continue to use the gulf’s long-established name in our reporting, while noting the administration’s efforts to rebrand it,” the news agency said in a statement.

“For anyone who thinks The Associated Press’ lawsuit against President Trump’s White House is about the name of a body of water, think bigger,” Julie Pace, the AP’s executive editor, wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. “It’s really about whether the government can control what you say.”

Judge McFadden’s ruling does not conclude the case but grants immediate injunctive relief, ensuring that AP journalists can resume full coverage of White House affairs while the broader constitutional issues are adjudicated.