MED-001 · Press & media · Press access
White House bars the AP from the press pool over "Gulf of America"
Stage 4 of 5: Legal action · Lawsuits, subpoenas, charges · Last development Jul 2025
In February 2025 the White House barred Associated Press reporters from press pool events such as the Oval Office and Air Force One because the AP kept using "Gulf of Mexico" alongside the new official name. The White House later confirmed in court that President Trump made the decision himself. Judge Trevor McFadden (a Trump appointee) ruled in April 2025 that the exclusion was likely viewpoint discrimination and retaliation. A D.C. Circuit panel paused most of that order in June 2025, so the exclusion continues while the appeal is decided.
The appeal has not been decided on the merits. The June 2025 stay is an interim ruling (2-1, Judges Rao and Katsas in the majority, Judge Pillard dissenting).
- People
- Donald Trump, Taylor Budowich, Karoline Leavitt, Susie Wiles
- Agencies
- White House
- Reviewed by
- Federal courts
Timeline
Full D.C. Circuit declines to reconsider the stay; a day earlier the White House removed the Wall Street Journal from a trip pool over its Epstein-letter reporting. [3]
D.C. Circuit panel stays the injunction except for the East Room while the appeal proceeds. [2]
Judge McFadden grants a preliminary injunction for the AP. [1]
White House indefinitely bars AP reporters from pool events; AP photographers keep access. [1]
Responses
- White House (Taylor Budowich): Called the AP's continued use of "Gulf of Mexico" misinformation and gave its pool place to other outlets. [1]
Who is acting on it
- Lawsuit Associated Press: Sued to restore its press pool access (8 Apr 2025, What happened next)
Sources
Cite this case
Public Trust Tracker. "White House bars the AP from the press pool over "Gulf of America"" (MED-001). Last updated Jul 2025. https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-001-white-house-bars-the-ap-from-the-press-pool-over-gulf-of/
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