CNN —

On Friday, the Trump administration announced that The Associated Press (AP) has been indefinitely barred from both the Oval Office and Air Force One.

Earlier in the week, the White House pointedly targeted the AP over a controversy involving the term “Gulf of Mexico.”

President Donald Trump announced last month that the U.S. government would refer to the body of water as the “Gulf of America.” While this designation is now being used by government agencies, it has not been adopted internationally. Consequently, the AP continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” to serve its global audience while also acknowledging the president’s mandate.

Other international news agencies have made similar editorial choices regarding terminology.

However, this week, the White House specifically excluded the AP and banned its journalists from attending presidential events.

Notably, photographers from the AP were still permitted to attend these functions.

Just prior to Trump’s departure for Mar-a-Lago on Friday, his team confirmed that the AP would not be granted access to Air Force One for this trip, either.

In a statement on X, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich referred to the dispute over the Gulf, suggesting that the AP’s actions “are not only divisive but also demonstrate a commitment to misinformation.”

Budowich added, “While their right to irresponsible reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not guarantee them unrestricted access to limited spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One. Moving forward, these areas will now be available to the many thousands of reporters who have been kept from covering these significant parts of the administration.”

He indicated that AP journalists would maintain their credentials for access to the White House grounds.

However, excluding the AP from “pooled” events, such as flights on Air Force One, hampers the organization’s capacity to fulfill its journalistic duties.

The press pool travels with the president and provides information to the wider press corps. The AP’s role is critical, as it was a founding member of this pool.

According to the AP, the first recognized instance of a pool reporter inside the White House dates back to 1881, following the shooting of President James A. Garfield. As he lay injured, AP reporter Franklin Trusdell reported from outside the president’s room, relaying updates to his colleagues.

As a news cooperative that disseminates updates to thousands of clients, the AP has been a participant in the press pool ever since its inception.

The AP has not yet provided a comment regarding the administration’s statement issued on Friday.

The news agency has indicated it is considering a legal response, with one staff member stating anonymously, “It’s difficult to find a clearer instance of viewpoint discrimination.”

The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) is responsible for determining which outlets are included in the press pool rotation. While the AP is typically part of this grouping, the recent ban may prompt a reevaluation of its status.

On Thursday, the WHCA condemned the ban on the AP, declaring the action “a blatant violation of both the First Amendment and the president’s own executive order advocating for free speech and the cessation of federal censorship.”