U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will bar the Associated Press (AP) from the Oval Office and Air Force One until it refers to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
Trump signed an executive order in January instructing the Interior Department to rename the body of water. The AP, citing editorial standards, said it would continue using the historical name. In response, the White House excluded AP from several press events, calling the agency’s stance “divisive” and “misinformation.”
“We’re going to keep them out until they agree it’s the Gulf of America,” Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago.
Despite restrictions, AP still has access to the White House complex. The agency stated that the gulf has been called the “Gulf of Mexico” for over 400 years and criticized the administration’s attempt to dictate language.
“This is about the government telling the public and press what words to use and retaliating if they do not comply,” said AP spokesperson Lauren Easton.
The White House Correspondents’ Association condemned the move. Other news outlets, including Reuters, continue using the traditional name while noting Trump’s executive order.
“Reuters stands with the AP and other media organizations in objecting to coverage restrictions imposed by the White House,” the agency said in a statement.
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