Court allows Trump to block AP from covering Oval Office events

In the United States, a federal appeals court has made a ruling impacting the Associated Press's access to cover events involving President Donald Trump. On Friday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia decided in a 2-1 vote to grant a stay regarding access restrictions imposed on the AP, which began in February. The restriction followed the AP's refusal to adopt the president's preferred terminology when referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, resulting in legal disputes over media access. The ruling allows the White House to sustain its ban on the AP, affirming that governmental officials have discretion over which journalists are granted access to specific areas, including the Oval Office and Air Force One. This decision stems from an ongoing legal conflict between the Trump administration and the AP, with implications for press freedom. Dissenting Judge Cornelia Pillard argued that the ruling could undermine the role of the press in a constitutional democracy, suggesting that the principles established in First Amendment precedents are crucial in maintaining a free press. The AP has expressed disappointment over the ruling and is now reviewing its options to potentially seek a more expedited review of the case. The court's majority opinion highlights a belief that the president has absolute control over who is allowed in these restricted spaces, contending that viewpoint discrimination is permissible. In contrast, the dissent underscores the risks such policies pose to the integrity of journalistic freedom and the potential chilling effect on news coverage of the administration.