The White House barred an Associated Press reporter from an event in the Oval Office on Tuesday after demanding that the news agency change its style on the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America,' raising concerns about First Amendment violations.
A president's demand that a news organization comply with an order to change its content would seemingly run counter to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Associated Press (AP) reported that a White House reporter was barred from an event in the Oval Office on Tuesday after the administration demanded the news agency alter its style on the Gulf of Mexico.
The reporter, whose identity the AP refused to disclose, attempted to enter the White House event as usual but was turned away. This highly unusual ban, which Trump administration officials had threatened earlier Tuesday unless the AP changed its style, could have significant constitutional implications for free speech. The administration made no immediate statements regarding the move, and there was no indication that any other journalists were affected. Donald Trump has long maintained a strained relationship with the media. Prior to his inauguration on January 20, 2017, Trump announced plans to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” and issued an executive order to implement the change as soon as he assumed office. Mexico’s president responded sarcastically, and others noted that the name change would likely have little impact on global usage. The AP asserted that as a global news agency disseminating news worldwide, it must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences. The AP Stylebook, a comprehensive guide used by thousands of journalists and writers globally, adheres to consistent and widely accepted standards. The barring of the AP reporter was deemed a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the government from impeding the freedom of the press, according to Tim Richardson, program director of journalism and misinformation for PEN America. The White House Correspondents Association called the White House’s action unacceptable and urged the administration to reverse course. “The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors’ decision,” stated Eugene Daniels, president of the WHCA
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