**Federal Appeals Court Reinstates Parts of Trump’s Ban on Associated Press Access**

A federal appeals court panel has reinstated significant portions of former President Donald Trump's restrictions on Associated Press (AP) access to key presidential venues, including the Oval Office and Air Force One. This decision reverses part of a lower-court ruling that had provided the AP with broader access during press events in larger spaces, such as the East Room.

In a ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas, both appointed by Trump, agreed to lift the April injunction issued by district judge Trevor McFadden, another Trump appointee. The injunction had previously blocked the administration's efforts to limit AP's access. Judges Rao and Katsas' decision now allows most of the ban to resume while the courts continue to deliberate on its constitutionality.

The matter centers on the Trump administration's controversial decision to ban the AP after the news organization declined to use Trump's proposed renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." In her 27-page opinion, Judge Rao stated that "these restricted presidential spaces are not First Amendment fora opened for private speech and discussion," maintaining that the White House has the discretion to decide which journalists are allowed.

Judge Cornelia Pillard, an Obama appointee, dissented from the ruling, articulating concerns about previous Supreme Court precedents and longstanding traditions of press access. Judge Pillard argued that excluding journalists based on viewpoint undermines the principles of a free press and constitutional democracy. She warned that such a precedent could lead to a press pool limited to ideologically aligned outlets, depending on the party in power.

The Trump administration has defended its position by equating spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One to personal and private areas where access can justifiably be restricted. This ongoing legal clash highlights the enduring struggle over press freedoms and the extent to which the government can control media access to presidential activities.