Associated Press reporter barred from White House Oval Office

NEW YORK (AP) – The Associated Press reporting team was denied access to the White House Oval Office following demands from the Trump Administration that the news outlet call the Gulf of Mexico, the renamed title of the Gulf of America.

In the first few weeks of his presidency, Donald Trump signed an executive order which led to

employees at the Federal Board on Geographic Names to officially change the name of the body of water to the Gulf of America.

Several news outlets are sticking to the original name, the Gulf of Mexico causing retaliatory efforts from the White House.

This week, Google Maps began using “Gulf of America,” its reasoning for doing such is that it has a habit of following the U.S. government's lead on such things. Another online map provider, Apple Maps, changed to “Gulf of America” on some browsers.

AP style is not only used by the Associated Press but rather relied on by thousands of journalists and other writers globally.

“The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors’ decision,” said Eugene Daniels, WHCA’s president.

Journalists have stated that they believe barring AP reporters offends the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the freedom of the press.

Hannah Neurohr is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email hmn5264@psu.edu.