Overview

• A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's exclusion of the Associated Press from key White House venues violated the First Amendment.
• The Associated Press was denied access in February 2025 after refusing to use the term 'Gulf of America,' introduced by a presidential decree to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
• Judge Trevor McFadden emphasized that the government cannot deny press access based on differing opinions when such access is granted to others.
• The exclusion caused significant economic harm to AP, with the judge noting the agency's worsening financial situation during the two-month ban.
• The ruling reinforces press freedom protections and requires the White House to immediately restore AP's access to venues like the Oval Office and Air Force One.