Trump White House defies court order, bars Associated Press from Oval Office event

The Associated Press (AP) was barred from a White House Oval Office event despite a court order preventing the administration from punishing the AP for its editorial decisions. A federal court ruled against the administration's attempt to force the AP to rename the Gulf of Mexico, a decision the administration is appealing. The administration argues the AP's access shouldn't be restored until appeals are exhausted, while the AP seeks immediate reinstatement. A hearing on the administration's appeal is scheduled. While AP photographers were allowed into a South Lawn event, a reporter was denied access. The dispute began in mid-February when the AP was blocked from several White House events. The AP regularly covers other White House briefings. The core issue is the AP's refusal to comply with the president's executive order on renaming the Gulf of Mexico. The court found the administration's actions constituted viewpoint discrimination, a violation of free speech. The future extent of AP's White House access remains uncertain despite the court ruling.