French Resistance Steps in After AP Banned From Trump-Macron Presser

As President Donald Trump and France’s Emmanuel Macron today met in at the White House, American journalists from the Associated Press (AP) were barred from the press conference. But some weren’t waiting long, according to a tweet from Semafor White House Correspondent Shelby Talcott. The French press corps stepped in to ensure that a Paris-based AP reporter could go in and ask her first question. They decided amongst themselves to guarantee her entry, contending with Trump’s ongoing efforts to restrict certain news outlets. Talcott’s tweet ignited journalists across the nation and France alike to post words of support, expressing thanks and “solidarité!” It’s not the first time that AP reporters have been excluded from Trump administration press conferences. On Feb. 12, a reporter was prohibited from an event in the Oval Office after the outlet refused to change the phrase “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America” in their stylebook per Trump’s orders. The recurring press bans could pose greater issues: AP senior Vice President Julie Pace stated it “plainly violates the First Amendment.”