The Associated Press news agency (AP) has denounced that it has been forbidden to send a journalist to the signing of a decree in the oval despite this Tuesday, as “punishment” to the agency for its style guide, which maintains the use of the use of the Gulf name of Mexico instead of the denomination preferred by Donald Trump for this geographical area: Gulf of America.
The Executive Editor of AP, Julie Pace, explained: “As a global news organization, The Associated Press informs billions of people around the world every day with a factual and non -partisan journalism. Today [por este martes] We have been informed by the White House that if AP did not align its editorial standards with the executive order of President Donald Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, AP would not have access to an act in the Oval Office. This afternoon, the AP journalist was prevented from attending the signing of the executive order. ”
Aaron Ter, from the Foundation for Rights and Individual Expression (Fire), described the measure as “an alarming attack on press freedom.”
“The role of our free press is to ask those who are in power, not act as their spokesman. Any government’s effort to erode this fundamental freedom deserves condemnation, ”said Ter.
The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) protested against the decision in a statement published on social networks. “The White House cannot dictate how the media report the news, nor should journalists penalize the decisions of their editors,” said Eugene Daniels, president of the Whca. “The administration’s decision to prohibit entry to an Associated Press reporter to an official event open to the press is unacceptable.”
The signing of the Executive Order in the Oval Office finally became a question and answer session with the president and Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, whom Trump has entrusted the restructuring of the US government. When asked about the “hostile shot” of the Executive Power, Musk replied: “The people voted for a deep government reform, and that is what they will obtain.”
Trump’s order on the Gulf of Mexico
Shortly after his investiture, Trump signed an executive order to change the name of both the Gulf of Mexico and Denali, the highest mountain in North America. According to his decree, the Gulf of Mexico would be called Gulf of America, and Denali would return to his previous name: Monte McKinley, as was known before Barack Obama changed it in 2015.
At that time, the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, suggested jokingly that all North America, including the United States, should rename as Mexican America, as it was called in the seventeenth century.
Days later, AP published his style guide regarding Trump’s order, noting that the agency “will continue to refer to him by its original name, while recognizing the new name chosen by Trump.” AP justified its decision arguing that the Gulf has been named after the Gulf of Mexico for “more than 400 years” and that other international countries and organizations are not obliged to recognize the change of name.
However, the situation is different with Mount McKinley, since the mountain is completely within the United States and Trump has the total authority to change its name. Therefore, AP indicated that it will use the name Monte McKinley in its coverage.
The editorial style of AP is not only followed by the agency itself, but also by thousands of journalists and writers worldwide.
Most media, including Reuters, continue to call it Gulf of Mexico. However, when it is pertinent, Reuters provides context on Trump’s executive order.
Google, however, confirmed the change of name on Google Maps in the US, where it now appears as a Gulf of America.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for reactions on the statements of the WHCA and AP.
The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs also did not issue an answer on Tuesday.
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