Judge dismisses AP's motion against Trump administration, without ruling on merits
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A US federal judge on Monday, February 24, rejected an interim relief application filed by the Associated Press agency to restore its full access to the White House, without ruling on the merits of the dispute between this pillar of journalism in the United States and the Trump administration. The agency is notably banned from accessing the Oval Office and the official presidential plane , Air Force One, for its refusal to comply with the new name of the Gulf of Mexico, renamed the "Gulf of America" by an executive order signed by Donald Trump.
AP filed a lawsuit last week against White House chief of staff Susie Wiles , deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich and Trump's spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. The judge denied the agency's request to immediately restore full access to all White House events but asked both sides to submit written arguments and set a hearing for March 20. The White House welcomed the decision, reiterating in a statement that access to the Oval Office and Air Force One was "a privilege granted to journalists, by right." "This is the most transparent administration in American history," it said. Trump lashed out at AP on February 20, calling it a "radical left organization."
The press and all citizens of the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be subject to retaliation by the government."
Associated Press
The judge, however, warned state representatives at the hearing that the jurisprudence on freedom of the press does not support such restrictions, the media reported. AP invoked the First Amendment of the American Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the press and expression. "The press and all citizens of the United States have the right to choose their own words and to be free from reprisals by the government," according to the agency, which warns of "a threat to the freedom of every American."
In an editorial note, AP explained that the US presidential decree changing the name of the gulf was only authoritative in the United States, while Mexico and other countries and international institutions were not required to comply. "The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while recognizing the new name chosen by Trump," the news agency continued, recalling that the Gulf of Mexico had "had this name for more than 400 years." The AP agency, founded in 1846 by New York newspapers, which employs more than 3,000 people around the world, has published more than 375,000 articles, 1.24 million photos and 80,000 videos according to its figures for 2023.
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