Washington, February 19, 2025: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the Associated Press (AP) will be barred from the Oval Office and Air Force One until the news agency complies with his administration’s directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
The dispute stems from Trump’s executive order in January, which directed the Interior Department to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico. However, the AP, citing editorial independence and historical accuracy, has refused to adopt the new terminology.
In response, the White House has excluded the AP from multiple press pool gatherings in recent days, calling the agency’s refusal “divisive” and “misinformation.”
“We’re going to keep them out until they agree that it’s the Gulf of America,” Trump stated at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, making his first public remarks on the matter.
Despite the restrictions, the AP still retains access to the White House complex itself. The agency maintains that the Gulf of Mexico has carried its name for over 400 years, emphasizing its commitment to accurate and independent reporting.
“This is about the government dictating language to the press and retaliating when they don’t comply,” said AP spokesperson Lauren Easton.
The White House Correspondents’ Association has protested the Trump administration’s move, calling it a press freedom issue.
Most major news organizations, including Reuters, continue to use the Gulf of Mexico while acknowledging Trump’s executive order in their reporting.
“Reuters stands with the Associated Press and other media organizations in objecting to coverage restrictions imposed by the White House due to independent editorial decisions,” Reuters said in a statement on Saturday.
The ongoing standoff between the Trump administration and the press has sparked renewed debate over government influence on journalism and media independence in the U.S.
