AP Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration for White House Press Ban
Washington, D.C., March 5, 2023 - The Associated Press (AP) has filed a lawsuit against three Trump administration officials, alleging they violated the First Amendment by denying the news organization access to presidential events.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, names White House chief of staff Susan Wiles, deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt as defendants.
The AP claims that the White House has blocked its reporters and photographers from covering presidential events because of the organization's refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," as ordered by President Trump.
In its complaint, the AP argues that the government cannot censor speech or retaliate against media outlets for exercising their First Amendment rights. The lawsuit seeks a court order to lift the ban and a declaration that it violates the Constitution.
The White House has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
According to the AP's lawsuit, the organization's coverage of the Trump administration has been critical at times, but it notes that the First Amendment protects the right to criticize the government.
The AP is a global news agency that has participated in the White House press pool for over a century, providing the public with timely and comprehensive reporting on the president's activities.
The lawsuit is the latest chapter in an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and the media. The White House has repeatedly attacked the press, accusing news outlets of bias and spreading "fake news."