A federal judge is expected to review a request from the Associated Press on Monday to reinstate full access for its journalists, following a decision by President Donald Trump’s administration to restrict their coverage related to the Gulf of Mexico.
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, appointed by Trump, will hear the AP’s motion for a temporary restraining order against the administration at 3 p.m. ET (2000 GMT) in a Washington federal court.
The AP filed a lawsuit on Friday against three senior aides of Trump, contending that the administration’s actions to prevent its reporters from accessing the Oval Office and Air Force One infringe upon the First Amendment rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. The agency is seeking to promptly restore its access to all areas designated for the White House press pool.
White House spokesman Steven Cheung described the lawsuit as a “blatant PR stunt” in a recent statement. During a recent appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted, “We believe we are justified in this stance.”
Leavitt is among the three White House officials named as defendants in the lawsuit. The other two, Chief of Staff Susan Wiles and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, have not yet provided comments regarding the matter.
The White House did not offer an immediate response to a request for comment on Sunday.
Last month, Trump issued an executive order instructing the U.S. Interior Department to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
In January, the Associated Press announced it would continue to use the gulf’s traditional name in its reporting while also recognizing Trump’s attempts to alter it. In response, the White House imposed a ban on AP reporters, restricting their access to Trump and other senior officials during significant news events.
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The White House Correspondents’ Association, along with several press freedom organizations, has condemned this action. Reuters has also issued a statement in support of the Associated Press.
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