Appeals court allows White House AP ban to continue
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
A panel of judges from a U.S. federal appeals court on Friday said parts of the White House's ban on the Associated Press could remain, dealing a devastating blow to AP.
Why it matters: Press freedom advocates are closely watching AP's case for any precedents it could set around free speech protections for journalists.
What they're saying: In a statement, AP said, "We are disappointed in the court's decision and are reviewing our options."
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the ruling a victory in a post on X.
- "As we've said all along, the Associated Press is not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in other sensitive locations," she wrote.
Catch up quick: AP sued three Trump administration officials in late February for blocking its reporters from events like Oval Office meetings and Air Force One press pools, citing a violation of its First Amendment rights.
- The White House said it barred AP for refusing to change the term "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" in its journalism. AP said it didn't make the change so as not to cause confusion amongst its global readership.
- A judge rejected the Associated Press' emergency motion to rescind the White House ban shortly after he sought more details on the circumstances surrounding the case.
- In April, a federal judge sided with the Associated Press, declaring that under the First Amendment, the government can't bar journalists from certain government events because of their viewpoints.
- The Trump administration appealed the federal judge's ruling shortly thereafter.
How it works: The recent decision allows most of the White House's ban to go back into effect while the case is still litigated.
- The White House barred AP reporters from presidential spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One.
- The panel of three judges — two of which were Trump appointees — ruled that those spaces aren't subject to First Amendment protections, but allowed a lower court ruling that said the White House must allow access to larger spaces, like the East Room, to AP.
