Washington DC [USA] February 26 : US President Donald Trump got emotional while looking at a map of the newly renamed "Gulf of America" during an Oval Office media event on Tuesday (local time).
"I'm just looking at itit's beautiful, really beautiful. I'm getting teary-eyed, but don't you dare say, 'Trump broke down and cried,'" he humorously remarked, pointing to the map. This was posted on X by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor.
This moment comes after Trump's controversial executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico, sparking both support and criticism. He signed a proclamation declaring February 9th as "Gulf of America Day" during a flight to New Orleans.
During a flight to New Orleans, he signed a proclamation officially declaring February 9th as "Gulf of America Day." This declaration was part of his broader push to alter historical names and assert his administration's stance on American identity.
The White House has been vocally supportive of the renaming despite backlash from numerous media outlets, particularly the Associated Press (AP), which continues to use the name "Gulf of Mexico" in its coverage.
The conflict between Trump and the AP escalated after the White House began systematically excluding the agency from key presidential events, including press briefings aboard Air Force One.
This exclusion led the AP to file a lawsuit, arguing that the actions of the administration violated the First and Fifth Amendments, specifically its right to freedom of the press and due process.
In response, a federal judge denied the AP's request for an immediate injunction to restore its access, but a full hearing on the matter is scheduled for March.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration's position, stating that the right to question the president is a "privilege, not a legal right," emphasizing that the government has the authority to manage its interactions with the press as it sees fit.
This legal battle over media access and the renaming controversy has become a flashpoint in the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and major news organizations.
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