By Charles Switzer
3:19pm PST, Feb 12, 2025
AP Ban Sparks Controversy
During a Wednesday, February 12, White House press briefing, Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt was pressed about the administration's decision to bar an
Associated Press (AP) reporter from an Oval Office event.
CNN's
Kaitlan Collins questioned whether the move was an act of retaliation, given that
AP refused to adopt the new administration's newly designated name, "Gulf of America," for the Gulf of Mexico.
AP Executive Editor
Julie Pace claimed the White House exclusion was directly linked to the outlet's decision to adhere to its own editorial standards, raising concerns about press freedom and potential media suppression.
Here are three takeaways from the latest "Gulf of America" controversy.
MORE:
Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content
Leavitt Defends the Decision
Leavitt pushed back against accusations of retaliation, arguing that access to the Oval Office is a privilege, not a right. She emphasized that the administration has the authority to determine which reporters are allowed in, stating, "Nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask a president of the United States questions, that is an invitation that is given."
She reassured the press corps that AP still had credentials to attend White House briefings but maintained that President
Donald Trump's administration had the discretion to decide who gets direct access to the president.
Gulf of America Controversy
The central issue fueling the dispute is President Trump's executive order
renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" after being known as the former for nearly 400 years.
The
Associated Press and other media outlets have refused to adopt the new designation, citing journalistic integrity and adherence to factual geographical names. However, Leavitt insisted that the renaming was official, pointing to recognition from the Secretary of the Interior and major tech platforms like Apple and Google.
She framed the administration's stance as a battle against "lies," suggesting that media outlets refusing to use the term were being deliberately misleading.
First Amendment Concerns and Retaliation Claims
Collins pressed further, questioning whether the White House was setting a dangerous precedent by penalizing media outlets that do not conform to its preferred terminology. She asked how such actions align with the administration's stated commitment to the
First Amendment. "If we feel that there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable," she replied.
The clash highlights growing tensions between the Trump administration and the press, particularly regarding the administration's perceived efforts to control narratives and language in media coverage.
