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Associated Press beats the White House in court [1]
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Date: 2025-04-09
It was all about AP leaving the Gulf of Mexico in their StyleBook. They're an international news service. Nobody calls it the Gulf of America but Trump. They also acknowledged that Trump had changed the name for use in the United States, although he wants it worldwide.
In a Truth Social post about the tariffs, Trump said the negotiations were also about "other things." He is so petty that he could be using the tariffs to make other nations call it the Gulf of America.
The White House revoked AP's press credentials to be in the Oval Office and being able to travel on Air Force One with the president, for the crime of calling the Gulf, the Gulf of Mexico.
They took the case to federal court. They just won. It was a pretty obvious violation of the First Amendment.
U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden ruled that, "Under the First Amendment, if the government opens its doors to some journalists --- be it to the Oval Office, East Room, or elsewhere --- it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints. The Constitution requires no less."
Take that, Karoline Leavitt!
The judge stayed his order until April 13th to give the administration time to respond or take it to a higher court, meaning the Supreme Court. It would be a foolish loss if they did.
Scores of news organizations use the AP StyleBook for guidance on spelling, grammar and how to refer to people and places, to ensure such references are widely understood to the U.S. and globally.
McFadden also noted that other members of the press pool have continued calling it the Gulf of Mexico, while noting Trump's executive order.
"... the Government has singled out the AP because of its refusal to update the Gulf's name in its StyleBook, an influential writing and editing guide," Judge McFadden added.
AP was singled out because they had a form of influence on other news organizations with their Stylebook. It was not only freedom of actual speech, but also the freedom of the printed word at stake.
The White House issued some snarky comments, but not whether they would appeal.
Score one for the good guys!
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