US President Donald Trump ripped the Associated Press for referring to the Gulf of America as the Gulf of Mexico, saying he’s not going to let them into the White House because “that’s the way life works.”
The Associated Press continues to use the previous name in its first reference, considering its international recognition and familiarity among many readers.
Calling the AP “obsolete” Trump criticised the agency for not adhering to “what the law is,” referring to his recent executive order that officially changed the waterbody’s name.
He indicated his intention to continue restricting the wire service’s access to key White House areas until they comply with the name change.
” I don’t know what they’re doing, but I just say that we’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America. We’re very proud of this country and we want it to be the Gulf of America Now. Now, the Associated Press, as you know, has been very, very wrong on the election, on Trump and the treatment of Trump and other things having to do with Trump and Republicans and conservatives, and they’re doing us no favours, and I guess I’m not doing them any favours,” Trump remarked about the AP. “That’s the way life works,”
The AP responded to the restriction stating, “the actions taken to restrict AP’s coverage of presidential events because of how we refer to a geographic location chip away at this important right enshrined in the US Constitution for all Americans.”
The White House Correspondents’ Association and various press freedom organisations have expressed their disapproval of the decision, urging the administration to reconsider.
This situation is widely interpreted as another instance in Trump’s ongoing contentious relationship with the media.