The White House is standing by its decision to bar the Associated Press (AP) from attending its press briefings, citing the news organization’s refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
During a press briefing on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the issue, reinforcing the administration’s stance.
“I was very upfront in my briefing on day one, that if we feel that there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable,” Leavitt said in response to a reporter’s question.
She went on to justify the administration’s position, asserting that the name change is official.
“It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the ‘Gulf of America.’ And I'm not sure why news outlets don't want to call it that, but that is what it is,” Leavitt stated. “The Secretary of Interior has made that the official designation and the geographical identification name server and Apple has recognized that.”
Leavitt further emphasized that the administration expects media outlets to align with the new terminology.
“Pretty much every other outlet in this room has recognized that body of water as the Gulf of America, and it's very important to this administration that we get that right, not just for people here at home, but also for the rest of the world,” she added.
The AP has not issued a formal response to the White House’s decision. However, the move has sparked debate among journalists and media organizations regarding press freedom and the role of the government in dictating language used by the press.
This controversy comes amid broader discussions about media access and transparency under the current administration.
Thank you for reading The Kicker! Let me know your thoughts below.
For more news be sure to subscribe to The Kicker and follow Ashlee Banks on Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @ashleembanks.
Share this post