Media

Appeals Court Says Trump Can Continue to Restrict AP Journalists

Published JUN 7 2025

Story

Above: U.S. President Donald Trump talks to the press aboard Air Force One on the way to Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on June 6, 2025. Image credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Contributor via Getty Images

The Facts

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington handed the Associated Press (AP) a setback in its attempt to regain access certain to White House spaces on Friday, delaying enforcement of a lower-court ruling that said access had to be restored until the case can be fully evaluated.
ap
Reuters
In a 2-1 ruling, judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas — both appointees of President Donald Trump in his first term — said that his administration would likely win the argument that restricted presidential spaces, such as the Oval Office, were not entitled to be opened up to all journalists.
Court House News
CBS News
ap
Washingtonexaminer
"The White House therefore retains discretion to determine, including on the basis of viewpoint, which journalists will be admitted," Rao wrote in an opinion that was co-signed by Katsas. "Moreover, without a stay, the government will suffer irreparable harm because the injunction impinges on the president's independence and control over this private workspaces."
Court House News
CBS News
Washingtonexaminer
Judge Cornelia Pillard, appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued a dissenting opinion in which she said her colleague's ruling "cannot be squared with longstanding First Amendment precedent," arguing it would lead to situations where only outlets like Fox News were granted access in Republican terms, and only those such as MSNBC in Democratic administrations.
Politico
The Hill
The dispute dates back to the first days of Trump's second term after he issued an executive order that renamed "the Gulf of Mexico" to "the Gulf of America." Soon after, AP issued guidance to its reporters and other organizations that follow its style guide directing them to acknowledge the change while using the original title.
The White House
ap
New York Post
That prompted the Trump administration's exclusion of AP journalists and photographers from the Oval Office, the East Room, and from coming aboard Air Force One. Friday's ruling upheld the lower-court decision to grant AP access to wider White House events such as those in the East Room and the Brady Room.
Reuters
Court House News

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

This is a big win for the Trump administration. AP declined to report the truth on the Gulf of America and judges rightly ruled that they are not entitled to private spaces of the White House.

Truthsocial

Anti-Trump narrative

This is a disappointing ruling that not only prevents the 179-year-old wire service from serving its readers and customers, but also defies First Amendment precedent that the White House cannot exclude reporters based on their opinions.