A federal judge finds White House’s Associated Press unconstitutional
The White House violated the Constitution Prohibiting Associated Press From an oval office event, according to a federal judge’s ruling Tuesday.
US District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, Trump’s appointee; I said The White House acted against the initial amendment that banned perspective-based discrimination by blocking access to long-standing publications that refused to use the term “American Gulf.”
“The government does not provide other plausible explanations about the treatment of AP. The Constitution prohibits discrimination of perspectives, even private forums such as the oval office,” wrote McFadden.
The Associated Press lost access to Oval Office and Air Force One’s reporting events in February. (Getty Images)
“If the government opens the door to some journalists under the First Amendment, if it opens the door to an oval office, an East Room, or another location, then it cannot close the door to other journalists because of that perspective,” he added. “The Constitution needs more than that.”
The Associated Press says it was banned from oval offices rather than using the “Gulf of Mexico”
McFadden decided that the White House must restore press access to the Associated Press, but delayed the order for a week to give the White House an opportunity to appeal.
After President Donald Trump signed an executive order to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” “American Bay” On his first day in office, the AP issued style guidance on how news outlets refer to waters.
“The Gulf of Mexico has been telling its name for over 400 years. The Associated Press refers to it by its original name, acknowledging the new name that Trump chose. As a global communications agency that promotes news around the world, the AP must make it easy for all audiences to recognize,” the guidelines state.
The White House blocked the AP from the oval office and the Air Force in February, refusing to use the term. “American Bay.”
The White House attacked the AP’s refusal to use the term “American Gulf.” (AP/Google Maps)
Taylor Budwich, deputy chief of staff at the White House, wrote to X at the time: Oval Office and Air Force 1. ”
A few days ago, White House spokesman Caroline Leavitt said, “The fact that the waters off the coast of Louisiana are called the U.S. Gulf, and I don’t know why I don’t want to call it that.”
In a statement Tuesday, Associated Press spokesman Lauren Easton expressed his gratitude for the decision.
“We are pleased with the court’s decision,” Easton said. I said. “Today’s ruling affirms the press and the fundamental right of the public to speak freely without government retaliation. This is the freedom guaranteed to all Americans in the US Constitution.”
Fox News Digital reached the White House for comment.
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Judge McFadden gave the White House a week to give the Associated Press a regaining access and time to appeal. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarck)
In the comments Fox News DigitalAaron Tell, the Foundation’s Public Advocacy Director for Personal Rights and Expression, celebrated the decision as a First Amendment victory.
“This decision is a clear victory for freedom of the press,” Tele said. “The courts strongly retained the basic First Amendment principle that the government cannot punish journalists just because they don’t like their opinions or reports. The AP is free to use its own stylebook. No prior approval from the White House is required.”
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