WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the White House acted unconstitutionally when it revoked The Associated Press’ access to President Donald Trump’s events and facilities, delivering a sharp rebuke to the administration’s efforts to penalize news outlets over editorial decisions.
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, issued a preliminary injunction barring the White House from continuing its ban on the AP, calling the action a clear violation of the First Amendment.
“The Constitution forbids viewpoint discrimination, even in a nonpublic forum like the Oval Office,” McFadden wrote in his 41-page opinion. “Under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists… it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints.”
The dispute stems from Trump’s directive earlier this year renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” and his subsequent move to bar the AP from key press access after the agency refused to adopt the new terminology. The AP, a global news service founded in 1846, stated it would continue using the historic name “Gulf of Mexico,” citing consistency and accuracy in its reporting and influential stylebook.
Trump confirmed the motive behind the ban, telling reporters, “We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree it’s the Gulf of America.” In court, the administration argued it retained discretion over which journalists were granted access, citing evolving media consumption trends and the desire to amplify alternative outlets more aligned with the president’s views.
However, McFadden dismissed those justifications. “The Government offers no other plausible explanation for its treatment of the AP,” he wrote. The judge also noted that other news outlets using the same geographic terminology had not faced similar restrictions.
Though McFadden sided with the AP on the merits, he delayed enforcement of his ruling for one week to allow the administration to appeal. That means the AP’s access to the Oval Office, Air Force One, and small press pool events remains restricted for now.
The AP, represented in court by attorney Charles Tobin, described concrete harms from the ban, including delayed coverage and the loss of a $150,000 advertising contract from a client concerned about diminished visibility. Testimony from AP’s top White House correspondent and photographer detailed how exclusion from the press pool has slowed delivery of news and images—a critical blow for an outlet that prides itself on speed and reach.
Julie Pace, AP’s executive editor, wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, “For anyone who thinks The Associated Press’ lawsuit against President Trump’s White House is about the name of a body of water, think bigger. It’s really about whether the government can control what you say.”
The administration, represented in court by attorney Brian Hudak, countered that the AP still had access to daily briefings and could gather news via livestreams or shared photos. But McFadden said this workaround failed to satisfy constitutional protections.
Since the beginning of Trump’s current term, the White House has escalated its efforts to reshape press access. It has reshuffled seating arrangements during briefings led by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and signaled a preference for newer, often pro-Trump media outlets in press pools.
In addition to the AP, the Trump administration is also pursuing legal and financial action against major broadcasters, including lawsuits via the Federal Communications Commission against ABC, CBS, and NBC, and threats to defund public media organizations like PBS and NPR over alleged liberal bias.
The AP filed its lawsuit on Feb. 21 against Leavitt, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich. While the case is far from over, McFadden’s ruling marks a significant First Amendment win for the press at a time when traditional access norms face increasing pressure.
