Staff Reports
In a recent update from the political circus, President Trump has taken a firm stance against the Associated Press, declaring them officially banned from all things White House. The ban goes into effect until AP agrees to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico.” This empowering proclamation was made by Trump himself at Mar-a-Lago, where he confidently asserted the importance of being proud of American terminology. After all, who wouldn’t want the Gulf to be repurposed for national pride?
With traditional brashness, Trump indicated that the Associated Press will remain on the outside looking in unless they come around to embracing his preferred nomenclature. He expressed that the AP is not doing any favors to the White House, making it abundantly clear that a little cooperation on their end could go a long way. It seems the notion of patriotically renaming a geographical feature is not only bold but part of a larger communication strategy from Trump, who emphasizes loyalty and pride in America.
The back-and-forth over terminology has reportedly irked the AP, who has stated their commitment to using “Gulf of Mexico” because it’s already recognized globally. The rationale is that the name is widely understood among audiences far and wide, which sounds reasonable if one is living on another planet. Apparently, in the universe where geography glossary rules are set, they advocate for clarity over a catchy rebranding that may just stir up a few American hearts.
Of course, in Trump fashion, he didn’t shy away from calling out the AP as an embodiment of left-wing bias. He claimed that the news organization has consistently been off the mark concerning his presidency and its treatment of conservatives. Nothing like a little media call-out to spice things up; after all, turning the narrative upside down is a sport that Trump seems to revel in. He pointed out that other media outlets have already jumped on the “Gulf of America” bandwagon, which begs the question: Is there a secret media league where they gather and strategize?
“We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that’s the Gulf of America,” President Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago. “We’re very proud of this country and we want it to be the Gulf of America.”https://t.co/nati7arLpR
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 19, 2025
As this disagreement escalates, it’s worth noting that reporters from the AP were recently barred from enterprising Trump’s press events, an action that undoubtedly raises the stakes in this ongoing spat. The AP’s executive editor, while fond of drawing emotional lines in the sand, labeled the ban a “troubling escalation.” However, her distress was met with a strong presidential shrug, as he proclaimed that nobody else is challenging his vocabulary initiative. This leaves the Associated Press in a pickle, forcing them to consider whether to adapt their standards for the sake of access, or to hold the line for global understanding.
This little saga raises a curious question: Is renaming bodies of water to better reflect national sentiment the future of our media landscape? Only time will tell if the claims of bias and geographical sovereignty hold weight, or if the AP will just keep swimming in their conservative-less sea of “Gulf of Mexico.” Whatever happens, one thing is for sure: watching this narrative unfold is sure to be one entertaining ride.
