Donald Trump is not giving up. The American president stated on Tuesday, February 18, that he would maintain access restrictions targeting the major American news agency Associated Press (AP) as long as it does not agree to use the geographical designation "Gulf of America."

"We're going to leave them out until they accept that this is the Gulf of America," the US president said, answering a reporter's question from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. "The Associated Press refuses to follow the law," he insisted.

AP journalists, a pillar of the press in the United States, have seen their access to the Oval Office of the White House, as well as to the presidential plane, blocked by the American executive, which accuses them of not complying with the decision taken by Donald Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America".

Julie Pace, the agency's editor-in-chief, denounced a "flagrant violation of the First Amendment" of the American Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

In an editorial note, AP explained that the executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico had authority only in the United States, while Mexico and other countries and international organizations had not recognized it. "The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while recognizing the new name chosen by Trump," the news agency continued.

A new attack on press freedom

On Tuesday, Donald Trump took the opportunity to attack the work of his journalists.

"As you know, the Associated Press has been completely wrong about the election, about Trump, about the treatment of Trump, and about other things about Trump, Republicans and conservatives," the billionaire said.

During his first term, Donald Trump called the press the "enemy of the people." Since returning to power, he has again stepped up his attacks on the major American media, including targeting them in their wallets with legal actions.

Founded in 1846 by New York newspapers, AP provides articles, photos and videos to a wide range of media outlets, both American and foreign. The agency, a true institution of journalism that employs more than 3,000 people around the world, has published more than 375,000 articles, 1.24 million photos and 80,000 videos according to its figures for 2023.