White House bars AP over refusal to use 'Gulf of America' term
Associated Press journalists were not allowed at White House events due to using the name "Gulf of Mexico" instead of "Gulf of America."
Associated Press (AP) journalists were excluded from Tuesday's events at the White House. The reason was the agency's decision to continue using the name "Gulf of Mexico" in its materials, despite the new administration promoting the name "Gulf of America."
President Donald Trump, during his election campaign, announced the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the American Gulf. This was meant to be an expression of "honouring the legacy of American greatness." On January 24, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the name change had been officially implemented. The new name was also adopted by the U.S. Geological Survey, and "Gulf of America" appears on maps of services such as Apple and Google.
AP, in its editorial guidelines, recommends using the traditional name. "The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen," reads the AP guide.
AP Editor-in-Chief Julie Pace, in a statement to NPR, emphasized that the White House informed the agency of the need to adapt to new standards in order to participate in events in the Oval Office.
Support for AP
The White House's decision was criticized by media organizations. White House Correspondents' Association President Eugene Daniels commented: "The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors’ decisions."
This situation highlights the tensions between the administration and the media, stemming from attempts to impose new editorial standards. These events show how important it is to maintain journalistic independence in the face of political pressures.
