Staff Reports
The administrative tug-of-war between the Trump White House and the Associated Press took a sharp turn during a recent press event with French President Emmanuel Macron. In what appears to be an amusing twist in their ongoing feud, the U.S.-based AP reporter found herself barred from attending the press conference altogether. Meanwhile, a Parisian colleague was given the honor of asking the first question. Who knew that going global could lead to such local drama?
At the heart of this ruckus lies a significant bone of contention: the nomenclature of a large body of water. President Trump has suggested that the Gulf of Mexico should be renamed the Gulf of America. While many Americans might find that move refreshingly patriotic, the AP seems to have embraced an unwavering devotion to their international audience, arguing that global recognition of geographic names is essential. It seems a bit ironic, given that the AP touts itself as a premier American news organization yet finds itself embroiled in terminology battles with the very leader of that nation.
White House stops American AP reporter, but allows French AP reporterhttps://t.co/yIp9kjJfIY pic.twitter.com/00NJyEGITt
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 25, 2025
The feud has led to AP being barred from attending various Trump events—no Oval Office sit-downs, no elevated discussions aboard Air Force One, and certainly no access to other press conferences. So much for the freedom of the press in the land of the free. The White House made it clear that the expulsion of the AP will continue apace until they embrace the term “Gulf of America,” as if this were more important than covering actual news stories that are consequential to the American public.
Not content to take this treatment lying down, the AP responded with a lawsuit aimed at three Trump administration officials, arguing that their exclusion from events is a First Amendment violation. They claimed the government shouldn’t have a say in how journalists choose their words. While this is a noble sentiment, it raises the question: Shouldn’t journalists be held accountable in some fashion, especially when they seem to prioritize foreign preferences over American identity?
In the end, this dance of discontent illustrates the broader struggle between a media outlet striving for international favor and a president looking to make a statement about American pride, even if it seems trivial. One has to wonder if this bout over geographical semantics will encourage every other news organization to mind their names lest they find themselves similarly shunned. As the gulf grows wider between the White House and the AP, it’s becoming ever clearer that not all bodies of water are just local matters—and sometimes, one country’s gulf is another country’s disagreement.
