Trump White House To Appeal Judge’s Decision Siding With Associated Press In Gulf Of America Case

The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal today on a judge’s decision that the White House could not restrict the Associated Press from the Oval Office and other events as punishment over the news organization’s content decisions.

The Justice Department’s Brian Hudak filed the notice on behalf of the two plaintiffs in the case, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich.

The administration banned the AP’s White House reporters and photographers from pooled events in the Oval Office as well as larger events in areas like the East Room. Leavitt, Budowich and Trump himself were explicit that the reason for the restriction was because the AP Stylebook did not change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, ruled that the White House was violating the First Amendment by doing so.

McFadden wrote that “the Court simply holds that under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists—be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere—it cannot then
shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints. The Constitution requires no
less.”

In granting the AP a preliminary injunction, McFadden ordered that the White House rescind their “viewpoint-based denial” of the AP’s access. He gave the White House until April 13 to seek an emergency stay from a higher court and to prepare to implement the preliminary injunction.