President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”. The Associated Press (AP) has continued to use the original name while acknowledging Trump’s change. The White House blocked an AP reporter from attending an event in the Oval Office and threatened to ban the news agency unless they changed their style guide to reflect the new name. The White House press secretary defended the administration’s decision, stating that they reserve the right to decide who gets into the Oval Office.
AP’s senior vice president and executive editor expressed concern over the Trump administration’s actions, calling it a violation of the First Amendment. The White House Correspondents Association also condemned the move, stating that the White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news.
Google Maps and Apple Maps have started using the new name, citing their practice of following the US government’s lead on such matters. Mexico’s president responded to Trump’s executive order with sarcasm, suggesting that North America should be renamed “América Mexicana”.
The controversy surrounding the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” has sparked debate over freedom of the press and government control over media practices. The actions of the Trump administration have been met with criticism and calls for a reversal of the decision.
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