BREAKING: Trump Defies Another Court Order, Blocks the Associated Press from the Oval Office

In a brazen defiance of a federal court order, the Trump White House today barred Associated Press reporters from attending an Oval Office event, escalating an ongoing battle over press access and fueling concerns about the administration’s disregard for judicial authority and media freedom.

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Just last week, a federal judge ruled in favor of the Associated Press after the White House revoked the outlet’s access to press pool events—an act widely criticized as retaliatory and unconstitutional. The court granted an injunction requiring the White House to immediately restore AP’s participation in official events.

But on Monday, the AP confirmed its journalist and photographer were blocked from entering the Oval Office during a scheduled media availability. In a statement posted to social media, the AP wrote:

“Our journalists were blocked from the Oval Office today. We expect the White House to restore AP's participation in the pool as of today, as provided in the injunction order.”

The move amounts to a direct challenge to the judiciary’s authority—and a warning shot to other newsrooms that critical reporting may come at the cost of access.

The White House has not commented publicly on why the AP was excluded despite the injunction.

The situation has sparked renewed alarm from press freedom advocates, who say the administration's actions are part of a broader pattern of retaliatory behavior against independent journalism.

The Associated Press has not said whether it will seek additional court intervention, but legal experts note that noncompliance with a federal injunction can lead to swift judicial enforcement.