Trump Administration Defies Court Order, Blocks AP from Oval Office Event

Despite a federal judge's injunction mandating the Associated Press's access, the White House continues to bar its journalists, escalating tensions over press freedom.

AP journalists were denied access to an Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Monday, contravening a court order issued last week.
The federal injunction, issued by Judge Trevor McFadden, ruled that the Trump administration cannot exclude AP based on its refusal to adopt the term 'Gulf of America' for the Gulf of Mexico.
The Trump administration has filed an appeal and requested delays in implementing the court's order, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The White House has restructured the press pool system, reducing AP's traditional guaranteed access and introducing a rotational model that many see as favoring outlets aligned with the administration.
The case underscores broader concerns about executive overreach and press freedom, with critics labeling the administration's actions as a direct threat to First Amendment protections.

Columbia Journalism Review