Trump’s Media Freeze Hurts Us All

It’s 2025, and here we are—witnessing yet another assault on freedom of press. This time, it’s the Associated Press (AP) in Donald Trump’s crosshairs. Why? Because they refused to play along with his latest branding exercise: renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." When the AP stuck with, you know—the facts, President Trump decided to shut their reporters out of major presidential events, including those in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One.

Let’s be crystal clear—this isn’t just another petty snub. This is a calculated move to control the narrative. The AP, one of the most reputable news organizations in the world, has now been sidelined for refusing to use a politically-motivated name change. If this sounds eerily familiar, that’s because it is—these are the kinds of media suppression tactics we see in authoritarian regimes, not functioning democracies.

Naturally, the AP didn’t just sit back and take it. They filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that this kind of exclusion is viewpoint discrimination and a blatant violation of the First Amendment. But, in a concerning turn of events, a federal judge declined to reinstate their access immediately, stating that the AP couldn’t demonstrate it’d suffered “irreparable harm.” 

*Because apparently, shutting out one of the biggest news agencies in the world isn’t a problem… yet.

Traditionally, the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) has determined which journalists get access to presidential events, ensuring a fair and independent process. But not anymore. The Trump administration has decided it will now handpick who gets to cover the president—because that’s not alarming at all… right? 

This move has sent shockwaves through the media industry, with critics warning that it opens the door to government-controlled press access, further eroding the independence of journalism in America.

If we let this slide, what’s next? Will journalists be required to pledge loyalty to the administration to get access? Will news outlets critical of the government be systematically blacklisted? The comparisons to authoritarian regimes aren’t exaggerations—they’re warnings.

The very foundation of a free press is under attack. We cannot afford to look away. If we care about truth, democracy, and holding power accountable, we have to push back—hard. This isn’t just about the AP. This is about the future of journalism in America.

Thank you for reading. Please scroll down to add your comment.