WH: We’re Targeting The AP Due To Their Stylebook

February 17, 2025 Journalism, Trump Administration

One of the big reasons President Trump is limiting AP reporters’ White House access is to protest what aides see as years of liberal word choices that the wire service’s influential stylebook spread across mainstream media, according to top White House officials.

By spotlighting AP, Trump is amplifying Republican and conservative criticisms that the AP Stylebook, a first reference for most U.S. news organizations, shapes political dialogue by favoring liberal words and phrases concerning gender, immigration, race and law enforcement.

“This isn’t just about the Gulf of America,” White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich told Axios. “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.”

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Scoop: Why Trump is targeting AP -> “This is about AP weaponizing language through their stylebook to push a partisan worldview…,” WH deputy COS Taylor Budowich tells @axios Marc Caputo https://t.co/uL8Wk09Tth

— Jim VandeHei (@JimVandeHei) February 17, 2025