The White House has announced an indefinite ban on the Associated Press (AP) from attending its events, citing concerns over the AP's language choices in its style guide.
The administration accuses the AP of using language to promote a partisan agenda, which they argue misrepresents political discourse.
As reported by Breitbart, the AP's refusal to adopt the term "Gulf of America," a designation introduced by former President Donald Trump, is one of several points of contention. The AP's style guide includes terms like "gender-affirming care" and capitalizes "Black" when referring to race, while opting not to capitalize "white."
Additionally, the guide advises against the term "illegal immigrant." White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich expressed concerns to Axios, stating, "This is about AP weaponizing language through their stylebook to push a partisan worldview in contrast with the traditional and deeply held beliefs of many Americans and many people around the world."
In response, the AP has threatened legal action, arguing that the White House's decision infringes upon their First Amendment rights. The broader media landscape is contemplating a boycott of White House events in solidarity with the AP, though there are concerns this could create opportunities for outlets like Breitbart to fill the void, according to CNN.
Budowich further elaborated, "While their (APs) right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One." The White House plans to extend access to these spaces to a wider array of journalists, while AP staff will maintain their credentials for the White House complex.
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