The Trump administration has indefinitely banned the Associated Press from the White House over the wire service’s refusal to change AP style from the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America.’
AP White House reporter Darlen Superville and a photographer Ben Curtis were informed they would not be allowed to board Air Force One to cover the president on Friday afternoon.
Deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich said the AP’s decision ‘is not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press’ commitment to misinformation.’
Budowich wrote: ‘While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One.’
The White House had already banned the AP from going into ‘pooled’ events in the Oval Office this week and from Thursday’s press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was open to the broader White House press corps.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to call on the AP – which traditionally gets the first question – during her sole briefing of the week on Wednesday.
The Trump administration has indefinitely banned the Associated Press from the White House after the wire refused to use the name ‘Gulf of America’
AP White House reporter Darlen Superville is told by a Trump staff person that she is not allowed to board Air Force One on Friday
AP photographer Ben Curtis (C) stands on the tarmac after being told by a Trump staff person that he is not allowed to board Air Force One
The president received reporters in the Oval Office Friday afternoon before traveling to Mar-a-Lago for the weekend.
AP’s reporter and photographer were barred from entry and their reporter at Joint Base Andrews was told she wouldn’t be allowed to travel on board Air Force One.
The AP would typically have access to both the Oval Office Q&A and the Air Force One trip down to West Palm Beach.
It’s one of the permanent wire services that are always part of the presidential ‘pool,’ the group of reporters that follow the president – a tradition that started after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The news organization said on Tuesday that it was ‘informed by the White House that if AP did not align its editorial standards with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, AP would be barred from accessing an event in the Oval Office.’
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned reporters that if they ‘lie’ about President Donald Trump’s administration they will face the consequences
An Associated Press reporter was banned from Trump’s meeting with Elon Musk in the Oval
AP executive editor Julie Pace sent a letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles objecting to the outlet being blocked from events.
On Tuesday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a stark warning to reporters that if they ‘lie’ about his administration they will face consequences.
‘It is a privilege to cover this White House,’ Leavitt said. ‘It’s a privilege to be the White House press secretary. And nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask the President of the United States questions. That’s an invitation that is given.’
She added: ‘I was very upfront in my briefing on day one, that if we feel that there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable.’