Press Freedom Under Fire: Controversy Over Gulf of Mexico Name Change

The White House barred an AP reporter from attending an event because the agency referred to the Gulf of Mexico by its traditional name, ignoring Trump's executive order to rename it the Gulf of America. The move sparked protests from the White House Correspondents' Association, citing press freedom concerns.

The White House Correspondents' Association condemned the administration's decision to exclude an Associated Press reporter from a presidential event. The exclusion followed AP's refusal to use 'Gulf of America' instead of 'Gulf of Mexico' in its reporting, as per an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

Eugene Daniels, president of the association, stated that the White House should not influence newsroom decisions or penalize journalists for editorial choices. He labeled the restriction a violation of press freedom, reflecting broader concerns about journalistic independence under the Trump administration.

AP's Executive Editor, Julie Pace, highlighted that this exclusion is a First Amendment issue, emphasizing that the AP's stylebook respects historical naming conventions. The White House has not yet responded to multiple comments regarding the criticism, nor has Mexico's foreign ministry.

(With inputs from agencies.)