The Associated Press filed a lawsuit against three White House officials after its reporters were barred from attending White House events and travelling on Air Force One. This happened because President Donald Trump disagreed with how the news organisation referred to the "Gulf of America" in its style guide.

The AP filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington on Friday, asking for an immediate hearing and a court order declaring the ban unlawful and granting its journalists access again. “The White House’s indefinite denial of the AP’s access was based on the content and perceived viewpoint of the AP’s reporting and editorial decisions and constituted impermissible retaliation against the AP,” the newswire said in the complaint. The Associated Press is a long-standing and founding member of the so-called "pool" that covers the president 24/7. Newspapers and websites in the US and abroad publish the reports of AP journalists that are part of the newswire.  

However, citing a style guidance note that stated that the "Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years" and that the organisation would "refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen," the White House last week prohibited AP print reporters from attending pooled events at the White House. White House officials pointed out that the style guide influences many news organisations, including Bloomberg News, and is also used by non-media groups. However, AP declined to change its guide as requested.

In response, the White House blocked AP photographers and radio reporters from being part of the press pool and denied them seats on Air Force One. Trump blamed the group for wanting "to be cute" and bemoaned his press coverage in a Friday radio interview with Fox News. “I don’t think I’ve had a good story at AP in 10 years,” said Trump.

The Associated Press (AP) has filed a complaint against the White House, claiming it violated First Amendment rights protecting the free press and Fifth Amendment due process rights. The lawsuit specifically names White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich as defendants in their official roles. The case will be handled by US District Judge Trevor McFadden, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump. Several major news organisations have also criticised the White House’s decision, warning that it could set a troubling precedent for journalists covering the president. Even conservative outlets like Fox News and Newsmax have joined in the protest, expressing concerns that future administrations could also limit media access. 

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, along with dozens of media outlets, including Bloomberg News, sent a letter to the White House saying, “All news organisations covering the White House are negatively affected when one peer outlet is singled out in a manner that crosses a constitutional line.” The White House's action against the Associated Press comes as other parts of Trump's administration have increased tensions with the media. Earlier this week, the State Department told embassies to stop subscribing to certain news outlets, and the Pentagon began replacing media organisations that have had workspace there for a long time. On Friday, the Defence Department added more restrictions on shared press areas in the building. “To be clear, these actions together hamper the ability of news organisations to report in real time on the activities of the Defence Department,” the Pentagon Press Association said in a statement.