In a marked conflict over geographical nomenclature, the White House has barred an Associated Press (AP) reporter from an Oval Office event.
Newsmax reported that this decision was in direct response to AP's refusal to alter its geographical term usage per the Trump administration's demands.
The dispute centers around the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," a change mandated by President Donald Trump shortly after his inauguration.
President Trump, proceeding with a controversial agenda right from the start of his second term, signed an executive order on January 20 that officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." This decision was part of a larger initiative to Americanize certain geographical names.
Following the executive order, Google Maps quickly conformed to the new terminology as per U.S. government instructions, showing the "Gulf of America" on their platforms. However, Apple Maps opted to maintain the historical designation, "Gulf of Mexico," reflecting the division in tech company responses to the change.
This inconsistency in map terminologies reflects the broader controversy and confusion surrounding the name change. Both tech giants demonstrating differing levels of compliance indicate the complexity of national directives affecting global services.
The AP, internationally recognized for its factual reporting, publicly disagreed with the administration's directive. On January 23, just a few days following the president's order, the AP editorial board decided to continue referring to the water body by its well-known name, the Gulf of Mexico, although noting the Trump administration's preference in their coverage.
The senior vice president and executive editor of AP, Julie Pace, emphasized the role of the AP as a global news entity that adheres to geographical names recognizable worldwide. By maintaining the use of "Gulf of Mexico," the AP aims to ensure clarity and consistency for its international audience.
Julie Pace strongly criticized the White House's decision to block the AP reporter, highlighting potential First Amendment violations.
"It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism," Pace stated, expressing deep concern over the implications for press freedom and public access to independent news sources.
"Limiting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP's speech not only severely impedes the public's access to independent news, it violates the First Amendment," Pace added, pointing out the gravity of the administration's actions against journalistic practices.
The executive order did not only alter the name of the Gulf of Mexico; it also reverted the name of Denali to Mount McKinley, undoing a previous change made by President Obama in 2015. This renaming has drawn less attention but is part of the same policy push by President Trump.
In response to this part of the executive order, the AP has adapted its terminology for the mountain due to its location within U.S. jurisdiction, now referring to it officially as "Mount McKinley."
While the dispute with the AP remained a high-profile issue, there were no reports of other journalists being barred from the Oval Office event.
No clear statements have been made by the Trump administration regarding this selective exclusion, leaving the public and journalistic community seeking further clarification.