A pivotal legal battle over press freedom is set to unfold in the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit as it hears oral arguments on Monday regarding President Donald Trump’s decision to bar the Associated Press (AP) from covering presidential events. The case stems from an April ruling by US District Judge Trevor McFadden, who granted a preliminary injunction in favor of the AP, ordering the White House to reinstate the news agency’s access to the Oval Office and other key spaces. The Trump administration appealed the decision, leading to a temporary pause on the injunction in June. The dispute originated in February when Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The AP, adhering to its editorial standards, continued to use the traditional name, prompting the White House to limit its access to press gatherings, labeling the decision as divisive and misleading. The AP subsequently sued three senior Trump aides, alleging that the restrictions violated constitutional protections for free speech and due process. The administration countered by arguing that the AP is not entitled to special access to non-public areas. This case highlights the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the press, with significant implications for media freedom and government transparency.
US court to rule if Trump can ban AP from Oval Office in major press freedom case
