Newsmax, Fox News back AP in Trump standoff over 'Gulf of America'
Newsmax and Fox News are among the outlets who have reportedly signed onto a letter pushing back on the Trump administration's decision to restrict the Associated Press's White House access, in a dispute over President Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
At least 40 news organizations have reportedly signed onto a letter that the White House Correspondents Association circulated in support of the AP having its longtime reporting access reinstated. Oliver Darcy of Status News first reported on the "confidential" letter and the two traditionally pro-Trump outlets' inclusion.
"The First Amendment prohibits the government from asserting control over how news organizations make editorial decisions. Any attempt to punish journalists for those decisions is a serious breach of this Constitutional protection,” the letter reads, according to Darcy's report.
The Hill has not independently obtained a copy of the letter.
Fox News and Newsmax didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment, but Newsmax released a statement to The New York Times backing up its inclusion.
"We can understand President Trump's frustration because the media has often been unfair to him, but Newsmax still supports the AP's right, as a private organization, to use the language it wants to use in its reporting,” the company said in the statement to The Times.
“We fear a future administration may not like something Newsmax writes and seek to ban us. This is why news organizations like Newsmax and Fox News are supporting the AP's First Amendment rights though we may disagree with its editorial point of view from time to time."
The White House's punishment of AP came after it refused to change its style guide to adapt to Trump's renaming of the gulf, instead advising that both terms be used. The AP noted the gulf has carried its name for more than 400 years, and that it's a "global news agency that disseminates news around the world" in the decision.
The news wire has been indefinitely barred from Air Force One and events in the Oval Office in response.
“The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America. This decision is not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press' commitment to misinformation,” White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich said in a recent post on X.
“While their 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.”
WHCA released a statement from its president, Eugine Daniels of Politico, on Feb. 13 warning of a “chilling effect” on the press corps if the White House continues its restrictions on the AP.
“This is a textbook violation of not only the First Amendment, but the president’s own executive order on freedom of speech and ending federal censorship,” Daniels said. “We again call on the White House to immediately reverse course and restore access to AP journalists.”
Other outlets, including the New York Times and the Washington Post, released individual statements of support for the AP in the fight.
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