On February 14, 2025, President Donald Trump barred an Associated Press (AP) reporter and photographer from boarding Air Force One, escalating a dispute over the AP’s refusal to adopt Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” This exclusion is part of a broader conflict, with the White House blocking AP from several events, citing the agency’s “commitment to misinformation.” The AP argues this move violates the First Amendment, as it attempts to control media language under threat. The AP maintains its global audience requires it to use both names, referencing Trump’s order domestically. The White House insists the AP lacks special access rights, especially when space is limited. The AP’s stance on language, including its recent switch from Denali to Mount McKinley, highlights its role as a language arbiter. The dispute underscores tensions between media freedom and governmental influence.