AP Sues Trump Administration Over Press Ban and Gulf of Mexico Rename

The Associated Press has sued three Trump administration officials for barring its reporters from covering events. The dispute arose when AP refused to adopt the new name 'Gulf of America' for the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit highlights freedom of the press and speech violations.

The Associated Press (AP) has taken legal action against three officials from the Trump administration after its journalists were banned from covering presidential events, as reported by CNN. The AP claims this ban infringes on press freedom, a key tenet of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Filing the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Washington on Friday, AP is seeking an emergency hearing to challenge what it describes as an unconstitutional act. Judge Trevor McFadden, appointed by President Trump, will oversee the case.

The controversy stems from AP's refusal to adopt the Trump administration's renaming of the 'Gulf of Mexico' to the 'Gulf of America.' President Trump highlighted this at a press conference, which AP was barred from attending, underscoring a clash over language rights.

According to AP's lawsuit, the government cannot dictate speech, stressing the vital role of a free press in American democracy. The AP maintains the right for media and citizens to choose language freely, challenging what they see as governmental overreach.

The dispute follows Trump's earlier declaration in January to rename the Gulf, a change unrecognized internationally but enforced by U.S. agencies. AP's continued use of 'Gulf of Mexico,' shared by other global media, emphasizes the unresolved nature of this rebranding.

(With inputs from agencies.)