{"id":2424867,"date":"2025-04-17T19:14:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T23:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-weighs-trump-ban-on-ap-press-access-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-17T19:15:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T23:15:52","slug":"appeals-court-weighs-trump-ban-on-ap-press-access-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-weighs-trump-ban-on-ap-press-access-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Appeals court weighs Trump ban on AP press access &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fappeals-court-weighs-trump-ban-on-ap-press-access-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2424867&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-court-is-fast-tracking-sidney-powells-request-for-a-forensic-exam-of-dominion-voting-machines\/\" title=\"Federal Court Is Fast-Tracking Sidney Powell\u2019s Request For A Forensic Exam Of Dominion Voting Machines\">federal appeals court<\/a> in Washington is reviewing the Trump management&#8217;s ban on the Associated Press (AP) from accessing White House events. During the proceedings,Judge Cornelia Pillard emphasized the importance of the press in holding presidents accountable,referencing historical instances such as the Watergate scandal. The Justice Department defended the exclusion of AP, arguing it was a matter of speech and associational rights. Though, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, appointed by Trump, initially refused to lift the ban but later mandated that the AP be allowed back into key events. <\/p>\n<p>The conflict arose after the White House expelled the AP for refusing to adopt the term &#8220;Gulf of America,&#8221; which Trump wanted to use instead of &#8220;Gulf of Mexico.&#8221; The AP maintains its stance on using the historically accepted name. The ongoing legal discussion highlights issues of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-funded-database-labels-pro-life-organization-as-terrorist-group\/\" title=\"State-sponsored database classifies pro-life group as &#039;terrorist organization\">potential viewpoint discrimination<\/a> and the balance of media access in relation to presidential authority. Despite the court&#8217;s ruling in favor of the AP, the White House continues to restrict access, arguing that credentialing decisions should be at the president&#8217;s discretion. The appeals court is expected to make a ruling soon.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">&lsquo;Dignitary harm&rsquo;: DOJ defends White House AP ban at appeals court<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2092298\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal appeals court in Washington pressed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump administration<\/a> Thursday afternoon over its decision to bar the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/associated-press\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>Associated Press<\/em><\/a>  from White House events, with one judge warning that press pools have long played a vital role in holding presidents accountable.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;During the Watergate period, the press pool was right in there with President Nixon,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/media.cadc.uscourts.gov\/calendar\/calendar.php?cal=TodaysSitting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a> Judge Cornelia Pillard of the District of Columbia Circuit, pushing back on the administration&rsquo;s argument that President Donald Trump can decide who&rsquo;s allowed into his official events.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3383590\/letitia-james-trouble-falsifying-mortgage-megyn-kelly\/\">Letitia James in &#8216;world of trouble&#8217; with new allegations: Megyn Kelly<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3383694\/supreme-court-trump-birthright-citizenship-may-15\/\">Supreme Court to hear Trump birthright citizenship case<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3383153\/trump-doj-appeals-court-review-boasberg-contempt\/\">Trump DOJ asks appeals court to review Boasberg&#8217;s contempt threat<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump, from right, speaks to reporters accompanied by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Burgum&rsquo;s wife Kathryn Burgum, aboard Air Force One where Trump signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 9 Gulf of America Day, as he travels from West Palm Beach, Fla. to New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ben Curtis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Justice Department lawyer Eric McArthur defended the decision to exclude the <em>Associated Press<\/em>, calling it a matter of &ldquo;speech and associational rights.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden&rsquo;s order reinstating the <em>Associated Press<\/em>, he said, was &ldquo;not far off from a judicial decree ordering the president to answer a specific reporter&rsquo;s question,&rdquo; calling it a &ldquo;dignitary harm.&rdquo; McFadden, a Trump appointee, initially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3328748\/judge-rejects-associated-press-emergency-bid-restore-trump-press-access\/\">declined<\/a> to lift the limitations on the outlet in late February, but reversed course on April 8 by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3374430\/judge-orders-white-house-restore-associated-press-access\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">ordering the White House to restore access<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">key presidential events<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the center of the fight is the White House&rsquo;s February decision to eject the <em>Associated Press<\/em> from daily press access after the outlet refused to start using the Gulf of America to describe the waterway that was previously called the Gulf of Mexico. The <em>Associated Press<\/em>, which maintains a widely used stylebook, said it would continue using the historically accepted name while acknowledging Trump&rsquo;s change.<\/p>\n<p>The case, which names White House staff such as press secretary Karoline Leavitt and deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich, landed before a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit: Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, both Trump appointees, and Judge Pillard, an Obama nominee. The court is weighing whether to pause McFadden&rsquo;s ruling while litigation proceeds.<\/p>\n<p><em>Associated Press<\/em> attorney Charles Tobin warned the panel that the White House&rsquo;s actions amounted to unconstitutional retaliation. &ldquo;Viewpoint discrimination is anathema to fundamental American doctrine,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Katsas questioned whether courts should wade into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kellogg-end-ukraine-war-quickly-to-finally-focus-on-ccp-threat\/\" title=\"Kellogg: End Ukraine War Quickly to Finally Focus on CCP Threat\">presidential decision-making<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There are a series of presidential immunity doctrines &hellip; built into every one of those is that courts can&rsquo;t probe the motivation of the president,&rdquo; he said. He floated a hypothetical in which the wire service seat is simply eliminated from the press pool altogether: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re just eliminating the wire service, replacing the seat with something else.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Tobin countered, &ldquo;If a White House aide tells one of these reporters, &lsquo;You&rsquo;re not getting in because of viewpoint discrimination,&rsquo; then the court has every right to weigh in.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Adding fuel to the controversy, the <em>Associated Press<\/em> accused the Trump administration this week of blocking one of its reporters from the Oval Office even after McFadden&rsquo;s decision. The White House on Tuesday also stripped wire service reporters of guaranteed daily access to the president in response to the judge&rsquo;s decision, setting aside a second slot for print outlets, including some wire journalists, in the rotating pool of reporters who gain access to Trump in small event spaces.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3379900\/white-house-blocks-associated-press-from-oval-office-against-court-ruling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"WHITE HOUSE BLOCKS AP FROM OVAL OFFICE DESPITE COURT RULING GRANTING ACCESS\">WHITE HOUSE BLOCKS AP FROM OVAL OFFICE DESPITE COURT RULING GRANTING ACCESS<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The White House argues the <em>Associated Press<\/em> is not entitled to &ldquo;special access,&rdquo; and that credentialing decisions should remain at the discretion of the president and his aides. McFadden disagreed, finding that the administration&rsquo;s actions were likely retaliatory and violated the First Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>The appeals court is slated to rule over the dispute in the coming days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2092298\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2092298\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ defends White House AP ban at appeals court, citing &#8216;dignitary harm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2424868,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AP25106761315576.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[34822,32324,51002,3634,32076],"class_list":["post-2424867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ap-news","tag-appeals-court","tag-press-access","tag-trump","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AP25106761315576.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2424867"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2424871,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424867\/revisions\/2424871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2424868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2424867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2424867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2424867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}