The White House barred a reporter from The Associated Press (AP) from attending an event in the Oval Office on Tuesday due to the outlet’s decision to continue using the term “Gulf of Mexico” instead of “Gulf of America”, as mandated by an executive order from President Donald Trump. The measure has been considered by AP and various press freedom organizations as a violation of the First Amendment and an attempt to control journalistic discourse.

President Trump recently signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” arguing that the new designation honors “the greatness of the United States.”

However, the original name has over 400 years of history and is internationally recognized. AP announced that it will continue referring to this geographic region by its traditional name while acknowledging the modification promoted by the Trump administration.

What happened at the White House?

AP called the ban on its reporter “alarming” and an attempt to punish the outlet for practicing independent journalism. “Restricting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of our speech not only severely impacts public access to independent news but also violates the First Amendment,” said AP Executive Editor Julie Pace in a statement to CNN.

Meanwhile, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) also condemned the administration’s action of barring an AP reporter. “The White House cannot dictate how media outlets report the news, nor penalize journalists for editorial decisions,” said WHCA President Eugene Daniels.

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How have other press organizations reacted?

Several press freedom advocacy groups have denounced the ban as an attack on journalistic independence. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) stated that “punishing journalists for not adopting state-imposed terminology is an alarming form of viewpoint discrimination.”

The ban was not limited to a single event. Another AP journalist was also blocked from an evening meeting in the White House Diplomatic Room, indicating a possible government strategy to pressure the media into adopting its language.

Google makes ‘Gulf of America’ official on Maps

Google Maps has already implemented the change for U.S. users, displaying “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico.” The company explained that it follows a long-standing practice of applying name changes when updated in official government sources. However, for users in Mexico, the original name remains visible. A similar change has occurred on Apple Maps.

Other agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, have also begun using the new designation in their official documents, reinforcing the government’s intent to solidify this change.

Censorship at the White House

The Trump administration has a history of restricting press access. During his first term, the White House revoked CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s credentials after a tense press conference. Similarly, access was denied to several reporters during the presidential campaign due to critical coverage.