The White House bars the Associated Press for refusing to use “Gulf of America”

The White House barred Associated Press journalists from the Oval Office and Air Force One in February 2025, after the agency decided to keep using “Gulf of Mexico” in its style guide — while acknowledging the executive order renaming it “Gulf of America” within the United States.

AP, whose style guide is a reference for thousands of newsrooms, argued that its audience is global and that the gulf retains its internationally recognized name. The agency filed a lawsuit against three senior White House officials, alleging a First Amendment violation for punishing an outlet over the content of its reporting.

The White House Correspondents’ Association protested the ban, and shortly after, the administration announced it would take over deciding which outlets make up the presidential pool, a role the association had performed for decades.

Sources: The Associated Press; White House Correspondents’ Association.