RTDNA Calls on White House to Restore AP Access

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA)

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) is urging the White House to immediately reinstate full press access for the Associated Press (AP), following recent restrictions imposed on its reporters and photographers covering events in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One.

The Trump administration recently revoked the AP's press pool designation for the Oval Office and denied an AP photographer access to Air Force One. The White House has justified the move by citing the AP's continued use of the term "Gulf of Mexico" in its stylebook, despite President Trump signing an executive order last month renaming it the "Gulf of America." The AP Stylebook does allow for the term "Gulf of America" in specific contexts, but the broader use of "Gulf of Mexico" remains standard.

According to a report from Axios, the dispute goes beyond geographic terminology. A senior White House official reportedly stated that the AP's style choices reflect a "partisan worldview" that conflicts with the beliefs of many Americans. The official suggested that the AP's editorial standards contribute to what the administration considers biased reporting. The administration's stance echoes rhetoric used by Trump during his 2016 campaign and first term, when he frequently referred to media outlets critical of his policies as "fake news" and "enemies of the American people."

RTDNA, which has advocated for press freedom for nearly eight decades, asserts that news organizations must be free to determine their own language guidelines, provided they uphold principles of fairness, accuracy, and appropriate context.

The White House has not indicated whether it will reverse its decision regarding AP's access.