Trump Seeks Court Backing To Control WH Press Access

A Justice Department lawyer, Eric McArthur, representing President Donald Trump’s administration, argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Thursday that Trump has broad authority to control media access to the White House. 

Reuters reports the administration sought to block a lower-court ruling that ordered the White House to restore full access for Associated Press (AP) journalists, claiming the ruling infringes on the president’s discretion to decide who enters sensitive areas. The White House requested a stay on the ruling pending appeal.

The dispute began in February 2025 when the White House restricted AP’s access to Trump after the news agency refused to adopt Trump’s directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” opting instead to use the historical name while noting the new designation. McArthur told the three-judge panel that Trump could legally limit the press pool to his “20 favorite reporters” without violating the law.

The panel, consisting of Judges Cornelia Pillard (Obama appointee), Gregory Katsas, and Neomi Rao (both Trump appointees), questioned McArthur and AP attorney Charles Tobin on the extent of constitutional protections for news gathering and whether a ruling for AP would require courts to scrutinize the motives of White House officials. Katsas expressed concern about judicial overreach, while Pillard highlighted the long-standing tradition of press pool access, citing coverage of past presidents like Nixon and Clinton.

The case underscores tensions between Trump and the media, with the White House asserting greater control over who can question or report on the president in real time. 

AP lawyers accused the administration of defying an April 8, 2025, ruling by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden (a Trump appointee), which found the restrictions likely violated free speech protections and ordered the White House to allow AP journalists into events open to similar news organizations, including the Oval Office, Air Force One, and larger White House spaces. 

Despite the ruling, AP text reporters have been excluded from the Oval Office, though photographers regained access to some events. The White House also limited access for other wire services like Reuters and Bloomberg.

The AP’s lawsuit targets three senior Trump aides, alleging the restrictions were retaliatory due to the AP’s refusal to align with the administration’s language preferences, particularly its influential stylebook, which maintains “Gulf of Mexico” as the standard term. McFadden agreed, ruling that the measures were an attempt to coerce media compliance.

The appeals court has yet to issue a decision.