Trump Punishes Associated Press: Journalists Stripped of White House Access

Associated Press journalists have been barred from entering the White House and the presidential plane due to their refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico the American Gulf. The agency considers this a violation of free speech, reports NewsBox.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration denied Associated Press journalists access to the White House and the presidential plane, Air Force One. The reason was the agency's disagreement with the directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the American Gulf.

The incident occurred on February 14, when an AP reporter and photographer were banned from accompanying Trump on his trips. White House representatives explained that the president reserves the right to decide which press members can attend official events.

Previously, AP journalists had already been denied accreditation for a press conference following Trump's meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as for a briefing in the Oval Office.

Associated Press declared that such actions by the administration violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech. The agency emphasized that they continue to refer to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico, as its waters border several countries where the U.S. president's order has no legal effect.

At the same time, AP complied with another order from Trump — renaming Denali Mountain back to McKinley, since it is located entirely within the United States.

Trump has repeatedly clashed with journalists, criticizing liberal media for spreading "fakes" and supporting the Democratic Party.