The White House shut out the Associated Press from an event because the news organization declined to update its style guide to change the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America."
Donald Trump announced in his inaugural address that he would change the name of the body of water between Florida and Texas and then signed an executive order instructing government agencies to reflect his preference, and the White House warned the venerable AP nonprofit news service that it would be banned from an Oval Office event if its reporting did not use the term.
“It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism,” said Julie Pace, the AP's executive editor. “Limiting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP’s speech not only severely impedes the public’s access to independent news, it plainly violates the First Amendment.”
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Google and other non-government entities have changed the name on its data and other materials, but the White House turned away an AP reporter from an executive order signing Tuesday afternoon, and social media users reacted with shock and alarm at the apparent example of prior restraint – a government action that prohibits expression before it occurs.
"Woke White House bans AP from event over deadnaming the Gulf of Mexico," said Alejandra Caraballo, an instructor at the Harvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic.
"This is a flat-out, clear-cut violation of the First Amendment," posted conservative attorney George Conway.
"Prior restraint from the White House, a direct and blatant affront to the First Amendment," said Jeff Domingues, an editor for S&P Global.
"A prior restraint AND compelled speech. Neat," added Christopher Terry, a University of Minnesota professor of media law. "I guess we're taking First Amendment violations up to 11."
"What if -- and I'm just spitballing here -- other major news organizations stopped attending Oval Office events out of solidarity with the AP, whose excellent reporting we and they have depended upon for decades?" said journalist Bill Grueskin. "Look up the confessional that begins with 'First they came for ...'"
"The AP must refuse this but more importantly the rest of the White House Correspondents Association should back them," agreed Kevin Kruse, a historian. "Boycott the press briefings until they relent, and if they refuse, walk out. There is no real use to them in any case. Trump craves attention. Deny him that and he’ll cave."