A federal court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration can bar the Associated Press (AP) from some events and spaces in the White House.
The opinion follows an AP lawsuit claiming the administration infringed upon the outlet’s First Amendment rights. Written by U.S. Circuit Judge Neomi Rao, the 2-1 ruling said that the government can limit speech or grant access to its property depending on where the speech happens. Contrary to AP’s claim that they were excluded based on viewpoint, the court argued that access rules are judged based on the nature of the location and not just “press pool membership.”
Additionally, the court clarified that the First Amendment does not prevent the president from choosing which journalists to engage with, as he is free to grant interviews or briefings to reporters based on personal preference or viewpoint. The president’s private choices about interviews are not subject to the First Amendment.
Taylor Budowich, a White House deputy chief of staff, applauded the ruling as a “victory for democracy,” claiming that AP’s “irresponsible and dishonest reporting” gives them no entitlement to an “unfettered access to limited spaces.”
After the ruling announcement, AP spokesman Patrick Maks said, “[W]e are disappointed in the court’s decisions and are reviewing our options.” Maks suggested an “expedited review of the full case on its merits” to fast-track the case in upper courts instead of waiting through the appeals process.
The case began when AP was notified that the administration barred reporters from covering several White House events in February 2025.
The administration cited the media’s reluctance to use “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico” as a reason for implementing the restriction. The AP sued, arguing that the exclusion violated the First Amendment.
Before Friday’s ruling, the AP saw partial success in the case after a lower court temporarily blocked the press ban.
Press pool membership is a small and select group of journalists who have special access to cover events with high-level government officials and in places where access is limited, including Air Force One and the Oval Office.
(Jurist News)
