The White House Correspondents' Association protested a decision by the White House on Tuesday to bar an Associated Press reporter from an event with President Donald Trump over the news agency's decision to continue referring to the Gulf of Mexico.Trump signed an executive order in January directing the Interior Secretary to change the name to the Gulf of America.
"The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors' decisions," Eugene Daniels, president of the association, said on Tuesday in a statement posted on X. "The move by the administration to bar a reporter from the Associated Press from an official event open to news coverage today is unacceptable," Daniels said.
AP Executive Editor Julie Pace said in a statement earlier that its reporter had been blocked from attending an Oval Office event after being informed by the White House it would be barred unless it aligned its editorial standards with Trump's order.
"It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism," Pace said, adding that limiting access violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing freedom of the press.
The AP says in its stylebook that the Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years and, as a global news agency, the AP will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the statements by the WHCA and the AP. Mexico's foreign ministry also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Like the U.S., Mexico has a long coastline circling the body of water. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in January jokingly suggested North America, including the United States, be renamed "Mexican America" - a historic name used on an early map of the region.
Most news organizations, including Reuters, call it the Gulf of Mexico although, where relevant, Reuters style is to include the context about Trump's executive order.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
36 Comments
John-San
The gulf of America LOL. How dumb are the USAmerican. If you were to name it after your country you think in would be name the Gulf of the USAmerica. Really how many of these dummies got educated by Fox News LOL.
lincolnman
The deconstruction of democracy and our Constitution - right before our eyes...
MAGA 2.0 and Project 2025 - democracy dies in silence...
bass4funk
Not dumb, smart actually. For one thing, Biden blocked Trump from building new oil rigs in the former Gulf of Mexico, now with the name change, he can drill, genius.
Has nothing to do with FNC, even though it is the highest-rated cable news network that, surprisingly, a lot of liberals watch. CNN, MSNBC, and the other lib networks could have done well as well, but they were too busy focusing on Trump and their mental obsession with the syndrome they have for the guy. they couldn't resist, and this is why they lost and are letting people go left and right.
wallace
Trump dictating the media
bass4funk
In the WH house, yes.
Underworld
bass4funk
Trump dictating the media
First steps to fascism.
wallace
During his first term, Trump took away the credential of a CNN reporter.
patkim
Trump wants to control the press, control what people do to their own bodies, say what they want to say about him and his friends, control how we can call a body of water, how much we pay for things. What's next? Soon, Americans won't have any freedoms left.
Why don't we just call it either "The Gulf of America/Mexico" or "The Gulf formerly known as Mexico" or "The Gulf of America (aka Gulf of Mexico)"?
patkim
BTW, saying "The Gulf of America" sounds so strange. It's like saying "Freedom Fries" or something.
BB
Typical Trump: Re-shape reality - "No, I won that election! It was stolen! The economy was great in my first term - ignore the data!" - and if anyone demonstrates independent thought, silence them!
BB
Trump's goal is to make people and institutions surrender their integrity. If they've done that, he owns their souls. If they haven't - like AP - he retaliates. MAGA rule number one: surrender your integrity by bending to His will.
kohakuebisu
I strongly agree with the Australian PM who has come out and deliberately said he will not give a running commentary on announcements by President Trump. This strikes me as very sensible position for the rest of the world.
This is a trivial issue in another country. I'm sure it is good for clicks, but this is a Japanese news website. Please report news that is more significant for Japan.
Ken
Because its the Gulf of Mexico. Wanting to take land/area's of water from Mexico yet is hellbent on forcing them out of the country is the work of a lunatic
patkim
Look, this is something totally new. The name "Gulf of Mexico" has been used for a very long time; at least for my entire lifetime. It's going to take time for people to get used to it. Both should be acceptable for the time being, as people get used to it. It's just wrong to punish people for using whichever one they choose.
Ken
The same goons who want to change the name don't have loyalty for America, they have loyalty to Trump and Russia when he defects to their after being kicked out of America for destroying the country in the next few months
Dragon
It’s only the Gulf of America to Americas. Everyone else it’s the Gulf of Mexico. Trump is playing monopoly. Gulf, Greenland, Gaza, and Panama Canal. Where next? Japan.
plasticmonkey
Remember when Nicolás Maduro rescheduled Christmas in Venezuela to October 1?
Classic!
Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico puts him right up there in the pantheon of dictators with fragile egos that need constant stroking.
Ken
If Trump turned his back on America you would follow, you never criticized any of the actions he has done hence why we say you worship him. I prefer Biden for president but I can at least admit it when he did wrong or made a bad decision
wallace
Trump has an investment in the millions of American-owned maps needing replacements.
I'veSeenFootage
Imagine basing your whole persona on how tough and manly you are, and then being scared... of journalists. Laughable.
bass4funk
No
I have, plenty of times, little overall, I like what the guy does and Support it
I i’m glad that he’s not in the office anymore, he’s gonna go down as one of the worst presidents in US history, that is already being established, and I also can admit when he did something wrong and bad, which was most of the time, which is the reason why the Democrats lost everything, and I repeat they lost everything, as well as people running from their own party and either becoming independent or becoming Republican
Ken
His reach doesn't extend to territories he doesn't own nor does the border wall go past the Gulf of Mexico
bass4funk
Based on Google:, The Gulf of Mexico plays a significant role geographically for the United States. It borders five states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. These states have coastlines along the Gulf and benefit from its access to international trade routes, ports, and natural resources.
The Gulf is crucial for shipping and transportation, especially for petroleum products, with large oil reserves off the coast of Texas and Louisiana. It also serves as a major source for fishing and tourism, contributing to local economies and industries. Geographically, the Gulf of Mexico touches the southern U.S., forming part of the nation southern and eastern coastline, influencing both environmental and economic factors.
plasticmonkey
70% of Americans oppose this.
Winning!
Another EO, opposed by 77% of Americans:
Ending requirements that government employees report gifts or investments
Some of that good old-fashioned drain-the-swamp winning! Transparency.
Ken
back with the fiction storytelling again. If so when was the time you criticized Trump for doing something wrong and or illegal? I'll wait for you to prove you don't worship the ground he walks on. Is it going to be a deflection or a full-blown lie this time?
Bob Fosse
Remember when maga used to quite Orwell and complain the media was being censored?
bass4funk
According to whom?
So this what the Dem lib pollsters are saying? They also said that Harris was ahead of Trump as well most of them.
plasticmonkey
BTW, Trump needs to hire a better graphic designer. The font on that map looks super tacky. Probably the same person who's designed his proposed makeover of Air Force One.
Amber
Watching American democracy going down in flames a bit more everyday - I might need more popcorn.
I'veSeenFootage
It would be funny and entertaining to watch if it didn't also risk taking down the rest of the ***** world with it.
plasticmonkey
I'm not enjoying it, actually.
patkim
I wonder what the cost will be to replace all school textbooks, printed maps, etc. to reflect this change.
Peter Neil
this week in stupid - todays edition
wallace
Hispanics will continue to call it the Gulf of Mexico.
BB
White dudes who aren't Trump's drones will do the same. Freedom of speech.
Chico3
Man! I'm having a laugh about this, and that picture says it all.
That AP reporter is the one with integrity.