A federal appeals court has handed President Donald Trump a key legal win, ruling that he can temporarily block the Associated Press from accessing select White House events, including high-profile moments inside the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One.
The decision, issued by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 vote, reverses a lower court ruling that had ordered the Trump administration to restore full press access to AP. The majority opinion emphasized that the President retains broad discretion over who is granted entry into private workspaces such as the Oval Office, which the court concluded is not a public forum protected by the First Amendment.
The dispute began after the AP refused to follow the White House’s preferred terminology and continued using the term “Gulf of Mexico” instead of the administration-backed label “Gulf of America.” In response, the White House limited the outlet’s access—prompting a legal challenge from the AP, which claimed political retaliation and viewpoint discrimination.
In April, a district court sided with the AP, but the appeals panel—led by two Trump-appointed judges—overturned that ruling, arguing that the President is under no constitutional obligation to offer unlimited media access to events in areas considered private executive space.
Judge Cornelia Pillard, the lone dissenting voice on the panel, warned the decision could set a dangerous precedent that weakens press freedoms by allowing the White House to punish media outlets for not aligning with official narratives.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on those concerns, defending the administration’s position as part of a broader push to open access to newer, independent, and digital-first media organizations rather than relying solely on legacy outlets with long histories of political bias.
The Associated Press expressed disappointment in the ruling and indicated it may pursue further legal action. The case could set the stage for a major constitutional battle over the balance between executive authority and press freedom, with implications that reach far beyond the Trump presidency.