The court restores AP access to the White House. Trump broke the constitution

The Federal Court in Washington granted the complaint of the Associated Press agency on Tuesday and ordered her journalists' access to events in the White House and Air Force One. In this way, Trump's administration punished the agency for not using the name “American Bay”.

In the judgment issued on Tuesday, judge Trevor McFadden – nominated for this role by Donald Trump during the first term – stated that the exclusion of AP from participation in events where the space for the media is limited, violates the first amendment to the US constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech.

“The court simply states that, according to the first amendment, if the government opens the door to some journalists – whether in the oval office, the Eastern Hall or elsewhere – it cannot then close the door to other journalists because of their views,” the judge wrote.

The exclusion of AP from access to the Oval Cabinet or Air Force One was a punishment for the fact that the agency did not use the new name of the Mexican Bay (renamed by Trump into the American Bay). AP argued that the name is valid only in the US, while AP has journalists, clients and readers around the world.

The exclusion of the agency was one of several movements of the White House aimed at increasing control of media access, especially those from the mainstream. The White House took control of the so -called pool, i.e. a narrow group of journalists following the president's actions and traveling with him. According to reports, he also intends to establish a new distribution of places in the press hall. Until now, these two issues have been responsible for the Association of White House Corresponders (WHCA).

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

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