US judge lifts Trump White House restrictions on AP, ruling govt can’t bar its journals | World News
A US judge ordered President Donald Trump’s White House to restore news agency Associated Press’ full access to cover presidential events, after it was barred from covering it due to AP’s decision to continue to refer to the Gulf of Mexico instead of Gulf of America in its coverage.
US Drict Judge Trevor McFadden, who is an appointee of President Trump, ordered the White House to let the AP journals cover events at Oval Office, Air Force One and other events being held at the President of the United States’ residence while the lawsuit of AP moves ahead.
However, Judge McFadden said that his judgement would come into effect from Sunday onwards and White House will have time to file an appeal against the verdict. The judge would issue a final decision on the matter in the coming months, which would also be open to appeal.
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“The Court simply holds that under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journals be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere it cannot then shut those doors to other journals because of their viewpoints,” McFadden wrote in the judgement.
The White House had started to restrict AP’s coverage to several events that featured Trump after the news agency took a stand to not use the name Gulf of Mexico, in spite of acknowledging the name change of the water body to the Gulf of America.
An AP spokesperson affirmed press freedom with the ruling and said, “We are gratified the court’s decision.”
“Today’s ruling affirms the fundamental right of the press and public to speak freely without government retaliation. This is a freedom guaranteed for all Americans in the US Constitution,” said AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton.
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