Washington, D.C., April 10 (V7N) – A U.S. federal court has ordered the White House to lift its ban on the Associated Press (AP), ruling that journalists from the agency must be granted access like all other accredited media.

District Judge Trevor N. McFadden issued the order, stating that the White House violated constitutional principles by denying AP access over editorial disagreements. The ban had reportedly been imposed after AP refused to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” as preferred by the administration.

In his decision, Judge McFadden emphasized,

“If the White House opens its doors to a journalist, it cannot close those doors merely because that journalist holds a different opinion or refuses to conform. This principle is enshrined in the Constitution.”

He further clarified that the First Amendment guarantees equal access to the press, regardless of an outlet’s editorial stance.

According to Deutsche Welle, the ban stemmed from AP's editorial independence in refusing to adopt language that the Trump administration favored. The White House allegedly pressured several media outlets to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”—a rebranding effort seen by many as politically motivated and geographically inaccurate. The AP’s refusal prompted the administration to bar its reporters from White House briefings and events.

The decision comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. media and the White House, following controversial policy decisions and increased restrictions on journalists seen as critical of the administration.

This ruling is being hailed as a major victory for press freedom. Legal analysts suggest it could set a precedent for future disputes between the executive branch and the media, especially concerning retaliatory actions based on journalistic content.

The Associated Press has not yet released a formal statement, but several press freedom watchdogs have welcomed the court's intervention.

As the ruling takes immediate effect, AP journalists are now expected to regain full access to the White House alongside their peers.

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