Associated Press v. Taylor Budowich, in his official capacity as White House Deputy Chief of Staff; Karoline C. Leavitt, in her official capacity as White House Press Secretary; and Susan Wiles, in her official capacity as White House Chief of Staff
The AP counts many of the largest newspapers and broadcasters in the United States as members, and many more subscribe to the AP'swire reports. TheAP Stylebook has been the American journalism industry's authoritativestyle guide for English grammar and terminology since the 1950s.[1][2][3] Conservative allies of President Trump have criticized theStylebook of bias for recent changes emphasizinginclusive language.[4]
TheWhite House press corps attends news briefings and other events at the White House to provide public visibility into executive branch activities. As part of its reporting on government affairs, the AP has participated in the press corps since its creation.[3] In 1977, theU.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled inSherrill v. Knight that the White House had a limited right to deny a press pass based on "an explicit and meaningful standard", provided that they "afford procedural protections".[5] In 2018, during thefirst Trump administration, the White House revokedCNN reporterJim Acosta's press pass, but a judge ordered him reinstated onFifth AmendmentDue Process grounds.[4]
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signedExecutive Order 14172, directing the federal government to redesignate the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America", a name that had not previously referred to the gulf, andDenali as "Mount McKinley". Private entities are not legally required to follow the federal government's use of these names.[6] Three days later, the AP announced that their wire reports would continue to refer to Gulf of Mexico by its traditional name while acknowledging theTrump administration's choice to use "Gulf of America". Similarly, theAP Stylebook guidance is to refer to the original name and acknowledge the name Trump chose.[7] The AP's rationale is that the wire reports are used by customers around the world who would be unable to intuit "Gulf of America" without further explanation. In a concession to the Trump administration, the AP simultaneously adopted "Mount McKinley" on the basis that the mountain's name is a domestic matter over which the federal government has clear authority.[1][8]
On February 11, 2025, theWhite House Office indefinitely barred AP reporters from attendingpress pool events, such as press briefings in theOval Office or aboardAir Force One. AP reporters would retain theirpress passes, and AP photographers would continue to have full access. Deputy Chief of StaffTaylor Budowich characterized the agency's continued references to the Gulf of Mexico asmisinformation and announced that reporters from a different agency would take the AP's place.[9][10][11] At a news conference, President Trump stated that the ban would stay in place until the AP agrees to use "Gulf of America" as the gulf's name.[12] In a legal filing, the White House later confirmed that President Trump personally made the decision to revoke the AP's access.[13]
On February 25, 2025, the White House announced that the WHCA would no longer determine which outlets have access to the president. Breaking with tradition, they would continue to exclude the AP while makingBloomberg News and Reuters share a single seat for wire services, and the resulting two openings would go to outlets of the White House's choosing.[19] On April 15, the White House eliminated the slot normally reserved for independent wire services in the press pool, affecting Bloomberg and Reuters along with the AP.[20]
On February 21, 2025, the AP sued Budowich, along with Press SecretaryKaroline Leavitt and Chief of StaffSusie Wiles. The complaint alleges that, by singling out the AP for its editorial decisions, White House officials are violating the Constitution'sFirst Amendment, which guarantees the freedom of the press, and theDue Process Clause of theFifth Amendment.[21][22] The case was filed in theU.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and assigned to JudgeTrevor N. McFadden. In a hearing on February 24, 2025, Judge McFadden denied the AP's motion for atemporary restraining order.[12] A hearing for apreliminary injunction was initially set for March 20, 2025. However, due to factual disputes, the preliminary injunction hearing was moved from March 20 to March 27, 2025, at 9:30 AM, with each side allowed up to two live witnesses and one hour for direct examination.[23]
On March 3, 2025, the AP amended its complaint, nearly doubling the size of the document. The amended complaint leads with a quote from an unnamed White House advisor speaking toAxios on February 25: "The AP and the White House Correspondents Association wanted to f--k around. Now it's finding out time."[26][27]
On April 8, 2025, Judge McFadden ruled that the White House must lift the access restrictions on the AP while the lawsuit moves forward but stayed the ruling, allowing the government to file an emergency appeal to theUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit requesting an administrative stay.[28]
