White House Ramps Up Attack On AP To Hit ‘Partisan’ StyleBook For ‘Weaponizing Language’: ‘This Isn’t Just About The Gulf of America’
Photo by: Frank Rumpenhorst/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
President Donald Trump’s White House ramped up its attacks on the Associated Press (AP) by claiming that the news wire’s influential StyleBook — used widely across mainstream newsrooms — is a means by which the outlet is ideologically “weaponizing language.”
Last week it was announced that AP journalists would be indefinitely barred from covering White House events and Air Force One over the outlet’s decision to ignore Trump’s gulf name change from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The White House’s move was criticized by those on the left and right.
According to top White House officials speaking to Axios, however, the AP’s refusal to adopt the new name is part of a broader grievance over its language choices on issues like race, gender, and immigration.
“This isn’t just about the Gulf of America,” White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich said. “This is about AP weaponizing language through their stylebook to push a partisan worldview in contrast with the traditional and deeply held beliefs of many Americans and many people around the world.”
In reply, also speaking to Axios, AP rejected the accusation outright and maintained its commitment to neutrality.
“AP is a global, fact-based, nonpartisan news organization with thousands of customers around the world who span the political spectrum,” said Lauren Easton, the outlet’s vice president of corporate communications.
Easton added that AP maintains that its guidance is just that—guidance. “The Stylebook doesn’t align with any particular agenda,” Easton said, adding that members and customers choose whether or not to follow its recommendations.
