The Trump administration announced Wednesday it has restructured the makeup of the White House press pool, eliminating a long-standing position traditionally held by the Associated Press, one of the most widely circulated news agencies in the world.
The move follows a recent federal court decision requiring the administration to reinstate the AP after revoking its credentials earlier this year.
The decision, which sources say is expected to withstand legal challenges, comes after U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden ruled in favor of the AP, stating that the White House could not exclude the outlet over its editorial choices — specifically its refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” a change ordered by President Trump in a 2024 executive directive.
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Despite the ruling, the administration adjusted its press policy rather than restore the AP’s previously guaranteed position.
The Associated Press newswire trying to get access from the Trump Administration https://t.co/6yFev6rlAe pic.twitter.com/4I9QsHOFfU
— Extremely Careless (@Shanghaibeast) April 16, 2025
In a new memo released Tuesday, the White House confirmed that wire services, including the AP and Reuters, will now have to compete for pool access alongside other print publications, as no dedicated “wire” seat will be reserved going forward.
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Previously, wire services had an automatic spot in the press pool, which is responsible for representing the broader White House Correspondents Association during official travel and limited-access events.
Under the revised structure, two print journalists will be selected per event, and wire reporters will be considered alongside other applicants.
This restructuring follows months of tension between the administration and the AP.
The conflict began when the AP refused to adopt the term “Gulf of America” in its reporting, continuing to use “Gulf of Mexico” while acknowledging the existence of the executive order.
🚨BREAKING: The Associated Press has been completely BANNED by the Trump Administration from the Oval Office and Air Force One for refusing to accept and use the updated name, the Gulf of America.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 14, 2025
The administration responded by denying the AP access to pool events and press briefings, prompting the outlet to file a lawsuit alleging violations of the First and Fifth Amendments.
In his ruling, Judge McFadden wrote, “The Constitution forbids viewpoint discrimination, even in a nonpublic forum like the Oval Office,” and directed the administration to treat the AP “on an equal playing field as similarly situated outlets, despite the AP’s use of disfavored terminology.”
The AP expressed disappointment in the administration’s response to the ruling. In a statement to CNN, the outlet said, “The administration’s actions continue to disregard the fundamental American freedom to speak without government control or retaliation. This is a grave disservice to the American people.”
According to CNN, the White House maintains that its new pool policy complies with the court’s order, placing the AP in the same category as other news agencies such as Reuters and Bloomberg, all of which must now apply equally for pool rotation slots.
The AP distributes its content to more than 3,000 domestic news outlets and over 900 international subscribers, many of which depend on the agency’s wire services for national and international coverage.
The policy change is expected to create operational challenges for the AP and other wire services that rely on regular access to White House events.
As of Wednesday, neither the White House nor the Department of Justice had indicated plans to appeal the court’s ruling.
The press pool changes are set to take effect immediately.
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