Donald Trump can’t stop winning. It’s second nature to him at this point.
And President Trump scores a huge legal victory that has Leftists red with rage.
A federal judge delivered an unexpected blow to the Associated Press (AP) on Monday by denying its request for a temporary restraining order that would have compelled the White House to restore the news outlet’s access to President Trump. The ruling marks an early legal victory for the Trump administration in a case that has drawn national attention.
Judge Trevor McFadden, presiding over the case, pointed to the AP’s decision to wait more than a week before filing its lawsuit. According to reporters present in the courtroom, McFadden remarked that the delay suggested there was no “dire situation” or “irreparable harm” that necessitated immediate judicial intervention.
The court’s decision caught many by surprise, especially among members of the White House press corps, who had anticipated a favorable outcome for the AP in the initial phase of this legal battle. The standoff erupted after the AP refused to alter its style guide to reflect President Trump’s directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” a move that the news organization resisted.
Following the ruling, the White House issued a statement reinforcing its stance. “As we have said from the beginning, asking the President of the United States questions in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One is a privilege granted to journalists, not a legal right,” the statement read.
The spokesperson for the administration added, “We stand by our decision to hold the Fake News accountable for their lies, and President Trump will continue to grant an unprecedented level of access to the press. This is the most transparent Administration in history.”
The AP, however, argued in its lawsuit that the White House’s actions violated the organization’s free speech and due process rights, particularly by barring its journalists from attending Trump’s events and excluding them from the daily press pool.
Judge McFadden, a Trump appointee, hinted that the AP might have a stronger case when the matter proceeds to trial. His comments left some observers puzzled, as many had viewed the trial stage as a more challenging phase for the AP.
At one point, McFadden noted that it seemed “problematic” for the White House to single out and exclude just one news organization.
Historically, initial court rulings on press access have often favored journalists. For example, during Trump’s first term, CNN’s Jim Acosta and Salon’s Brian Karem had their press credentials swiftly reinstated after legal challenges. Acosta’s badge was revoked following a heated exchange at a press conference, while Karem’s was suspended after a verbal altercation in the Rose Garden.
The AP has traditionally enjoyed a higher level of access to the president compared to many other outlets due to its status as a wire service. Alongside Reuters and Bloomberg, the AP holds a seat on Air Force One, attends all Oval Office pool sprays, and is present at press-accessible events both at the White House and during presidential trips.
In contrast, other major print outlets such as the New York Post and The New York Times are typically limited to just one monthly opportunity to participate in the in-town White House press pool. Non-wire outlets also face tougher odds of securing a spot in the traveling press pool, often sharing a single seat with a dozen or more other organizations.
President Trump has made no secret of his support for the AP’s ban.
“We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America,” Trump stated at a recent press conference at Mar-a-Lago.
Despite the controversy, the Trump administration has maintained that it has expanded press freedom. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, named in the AP’s lawsuit, began her role by pledging to restore 400 press badges revoked during the Biden administration. These badges were rescinded under a policy aimed at limiting access for independent journalists.
Leavitt also introduced a new rotating seat in the White House briefing room, granting access to social media influencers and journalists without permanent press credentials.
Notably, the Trump administration is not the first to face criticism over press access. The Obama administration previously attempted to remove Fox News from the TV press pool rotation, backing down only after other networks threatened a boycott.
More recently, the Biden administration drew scrutiny for tightly controlling access to large White House events, at times citing space limitations while leaving many seats unfilled. These restrictions, which included barring the New York Post for months, were only partially lifted before Biden left office.
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