The Associated Press (AP) sued three White House officials on Friday. The lawsuit followed AP’s exclusion from US President Donald Trump’s events.

AP Challenges Press Restrictions

AP argued that the White House violated the First Amendment. The lawsuit, filed in a Washington federal court, claimed the restrictions were government retaliation.

Notably, the White House began blocking AP reporters ten days ago. This happened after AP refused to use Trump’s new name for the Gulf of Mexico, “Gulf of America.” As a result, the ban later extended to Air Force One.

AP Defends Its Independence

Because of these restrictions, AP said it sued to protect its editorial independence.

“The White House has ordered The Associated Press to use certain words in its coverage or else face an indefinite denial of access,” AP stated.

Furthermore, AP emphasized, “The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government.”

It added, “The Constitution does not allow the government to control speech. Allowing such government control and retaliation to stand is a threat to every American’s freedom.”

White House Defends Its Decision

Meanwhile, the lawsuit named White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as defendants.

In response, Leavitt addressed the issue at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). “We’ll see them in court,” she said. “We feel we are in the right. We will ensure truth and accuracy at the White House every single day.”

AP Stands By Its Style Guide

On the other hand, AP firmly stood by its style guide. It stated that the Gulf of Mexico had carried its name for over 400 years.

“The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging Trump’s chosen name,” it said.

Moreover, Associated Press (AP) clarified, “As a global news agency, we must ensure that place names and geography are clear to all audiences.”

Trump Criticizes AP

At the same time, Trump criticized AP, calling it a “radical left organization.” He defended renaming the Gulf of Mexico, saying, “This is something we feel strongly about.” Notably, his decision reflects his ongoing conflict with traditional news outlets. He often accuses them of bias against him.

Press Community Condemns Ban

Consequently, the White House Correspondents’ Association condemned AP’s exclusion, calling it “outrageous.” After all, AP is a 180-year-old news agency and remains a key source of news for media worldwide.