On the surface, it might look like the Associated Press just scored a First Amendment victory against the Trump administration. Cue the high-fives in the AP newsroom, where I’m sure someone popped the bubbly and posted a smug victory lap thread on X.
But let’s all take a moment, breathe in the fresh air of judicial nuance, and realize: this wasn’t the win they think it is. If anything, it’s the legal equivalent of being allowed to sit at the table while everyone else pretends you’re not there.
So here’s the scoop. Judge Trevor McFadden issued a preliminary injunction telling the Trump administration that yes, they technically have to let the AP into press events if they’re letting other outlets in. You know, because First Amendment and all that. Seems fair. But here’s the delicious part: they don’t have to talk to them, they don’t have to answer a single question, and they certainly don’t have to pretend the AP isn’t the media equivalent of that guy at the party who no one invited but showed up anyway.
BREAKING: U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden has ordered the Trump administration to restore press access to the AP. pic.twitter.com/iGIarXigUB
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 8, 2025
This all started because President Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”—a move that had legacy media outlets like the AP clutching their pearls and refusing to go along. So, the administration pulled their press credentials for Oval Office and East Room events.
The AP cried foul, sued, and now they’re getting readmitted… under conditions that make it crystal clear: just because you’re in the room doesn’t mean anyone is acknowledging your existence. Welcome back to the White House, AP. Don’t let the cold shoulder hit you on the way in.
Let’s translate this legal ruling in plain English: the Trump administration can still ignore the AP with the full blessing of the Constitution. They just can’t do it in an overtly viewpoint-based way—at least not officially. But if Karoline Leavitt strolls into a press gaggle and pretends the AP’s hand in the air is invisible? That’s perfectly fine.
If President Trump decides to take questions from OANN, Newsmax, or a 7th grader from the Weekly Constitution Times before he ever calls on the AP? No problem. And if he ever does call on them, it’s well within his rights to respond with something along the lines of, “Nice try,” or perhaps a firm “Next question.” Or—more likely—not at all.
The court essentially said, “Yes, you must let them in if you’re letting others in, but no, you are not required to treat them like actual journalists.” You know, because after years of “anonymous sources close to the situation” and breathless coverage of every tweet like it was a nuclear launch code, maybe the AP shouldn’t be surprised they’ve burned a few bridges. And by “a few,” I mean every bridge between here and any semblance of objectivity.
BREAKING: Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, restores the Associated Press to the White House press pool, saying the WH must “immediately rescind the denial of AP’s access.” This comes after Trump banned the AP for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico “the Gulf of America.”… pic.twitter.com/WYNya7eidJ
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 8, 2025
This isn’t about press freedom. It’s about relevance. The AP wants back in the room because deep down, they know they’re losing the influence game. The legacy media’s monopoly on the narrative is collapsing faster than Biden’s polling numbers, and being iced out by a resurgent Trump administration only makes that sting worse.
So yes, they got a foot back in the door. Congratulations. But they’ll be lucky if the Trump team doesn’t just turn the lights off and let them sit in silence. This isn’t a win—it’s a courtesy. The kind where you still get invited to the party but no one talks to you, no one makes eye contact, and you’re seated at the kids’ table with a juice box and no straw.
