Washington: Senior Trump aides were sued by the Associated Press on Friday after the White House decided to restrict the news organization's access to the president and other officials because it kept continuously referring to Gulf of Mexico in its reporting.
Allegedly, the White House's decision to bar AP reporters from the Oval Office and Air Force One violates the US Constitution, including First Amendment protections for free speech, by attempting to control the language that the reporters use to report the news, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in US District Court in Washington, D.C.
“The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government,” the complaint states, Reuters reported.
Responding to questions regarding the lawsuit asked by conservative commentator Mercedes Schlapp, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking at an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, said, “We feel we are in the right in this position. We are going to ensure that truth and accuracy is present at that White House every single day.”
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung called the lawsuit “a blatant PR stunt masquerading as a First Amendment case.” Last month, Trump signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to change the name of the body of water, which has long been known as the Gulf of Mexico, to the Gulf of America.
The AP, citing editorial standards, stated it would continue to use the gulf's established name while acknowledging Trump's move to change it.
According to the AP's stylebook, the Gulf of Mexico has been known by that name for over 400 years, and identifiers that are immediately recognisable to global audiences must be used.
The White House responded by excluding AP reporters from the Oval Office, where Trump has conducted multiple press conferences since resuming his administration, as well as the presidential plane, Air Force One.
Trump's ban restricts AP journalists from seeing and hearing him and other top White House officials as they engage in noteworthy activities or respond to news developments in real-time.
Several press freedom groups, as well as the White House Correspondents' Association, have criticised the move. Reuters issued a statement in favour of the AP.
The complaint contends that the White House's decision was retaliatory against the AP for its coverage decisions, which are constitutionally protected. It also claims that the AP was not given the option to appeal the White House's decision to deny them access.
The lawsuit names Leavitt, chief of staff Susie Wiles, and deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich as defendants. Wiles and Budowich did not immediately return requests for comment.
The Associated Press is requesting a temporary restraining order declaring the restrictions illegal and restoring immediate access to all places open to the White House press pool.