Tensions between the Trump White House and the press are reaching a fever pitch after the president banned The Associated Press from Air Force One and the Oval Office over its refusal to use the term “Gulf of America” in reference to the body of water previously known in the United States as the Gulf of Mexico.
Tim Richardson, program director for journalism disinformation at PEN America called the White House’s move against AP “retribution, plain and simple, and a shameful attempt to bully the press into ideological compliance.”
In its most recent statement on the saga, a spokesperson for the Associated Press indicated to The Hill it has no intention of changing its style to appease the White House.
“Freedom of speech is a pillar of American democracy and a core value of the American people. The White House has said it supports these principles,” the spokesperson said. “The actions taken to restrict AP’s coverage of presidential events because of how we refer to a geographic location chip away at this important right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution for all Americans.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s actions regarding the AP.
“If we feel there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable,” Leavitt said.
“And it is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America, and I’m not sure why news outlets don’t want to call it that, but that is what it is,” she added.
The posture has sparked sharp pushback from the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA).
“The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors’ decisions,” the WHCA said in a statement calling the move “unacceptable.”
“Barring a journalist from an official event because their newsroom refuses to conform to government-imposed language is more than an attack on one reporter or outlet — it is an assault on the First Amendment and the public’s right to know,” added the D.C.-based National Press Club.
Some observers say the fight between the White House and AP underscores a new reality and an apparent choice for members of the press and news executives.
Media outlets can either push back on President Trump and risk losing access to his news-driving first days in office or tone down coverage of the administration and get called on for exclusives and questions often, these people predict.
“It really seems like if you cover Trump in a certain way, you’re going to get access,” said one leading Republican strategist. “They know their base isn’t reading The Washington Post or the AP. They’re base is on X, so they relish this. Picking fights with the media plays really well for what they’re trying to do.”
The president and Elon Musk, the owner of the social platform X and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, have accused outlets such as Politico, Reuters and The New York Times of benefiting from the vast government bureaucracy via subscriptions, which Musk is working to cancel.
Trump has also deputized his head of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, to scrutinize top news networks over tone of coverage; diversity, equity and inclusion policies; and other issues.
“There’s certainly a question as to whether it has a chilling effect on journalism,” another White House reporter commented to The Hill. “It’s hard to measure that effect, you can’t really tell what’s in the back of someone’s head [as they report the news]. It’s probably a little early to tell just yet, but I hope that’s not where we end up.”
It’s not as if Trump does not provide access to the press.
Trump’s efforts to flood the zone have included near-daily press briefings and events where he regularly takes questions with reporters. It’s a sharp departure from the last administration, which often sought to keep fairly tight reins on former President Biden’s interactions with the press.
“I’d say Trump has been more accessible than he was during the first term,” one White House reporter told The Hill this week. “If you’re in the pool, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel, you can ask anything, and I think that some people may be running out of things to ask about.”
But as it doles out access, the White House is also calling out media reports it disagrees with.
“FAKE NEWS Hoax Machine Keeps Running,” declared one recent White House memo to members of the press listing and disputing reports on Trump’s agenda from The New York Times, NPR and other outlets.
Leavitt has also leaned into an effort to bring in nontraditional outlets to the White House, including organizations that are seen as friendly to the administration.
At her first briefing, the press secretary debuted what the White House is calling a “new media seat” in the briefing room. So far, outlets filling the seat have included Breitbart and Rumble.
“Millions of Americans, especially young people, have turned from traditional television outlets and newspapers to consume their news from podcasts, blogs, social media, and other independent outlets,” Leavitt said. “It is essential to our team that we share President Trump’s message everywhere and adapt this White House to the new media landscape.”
