Donald Trump Launched A Chilling Attack On The Press. I Will Never Back Down.

I don’t normally do this many posts in one day, but today, Donald Trump took an extreme step, launching a chilling attack on the press that I have to address as an independent journalist. Earlier today, the Associated Press (AP) reported that the White House barred one of its reporters from attending an executive order signing in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

This action was taken because the AP declined to alter its editorial style to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," following President Donald Trump's executive order renaming the body of water. AP Executive Editor Julie Pace criticized the decision, stating that it infringes upon independent journalism and violates the First Amendment.

The AP's style guide has historically used "Gulf of Mexico," and the organization chose to continue this usage while acknowledging the president's renaming. The White House's demand for the AP to change its terminology and the subsequent exclusion of its reporter from the event is a direct attack on the freedom of the press and forever changes this administration's relationship with the media.

Two things are true. First, a huge shoutout to the Associated Press for standing its ground agains the Administration. Second, based on today’s attack, I won’t be going to the White House anytime soon, especially since I have and always will refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of Mexico.

I wanted to take this moment to let you know that no matter what happens during the next four years, I will never back down. I will never bend the knee to the Trump Administration. If you want to support my full-time (wooo) independent journalism, the easiest way to do so is by clicking the button and becoming a paid subscriber today. You will also get access to some great paid-subscriber only perks!

The job of a free press isn’t to placate a political figure. It’s to ensure the truth always comes out, whether or not that means holding political figures like Donald Trump and JD Vance accountable. For example, merely reporting that Trump will pardon January 6th defendants is not enough. When reporting about critical events like that it is up to the media to discuss the events of January 6, 2021, what Donald Trump did to incite the violence on that day, and the indictments that came afterwards. But, that’s not all. We must acknowledge the danger of pardoning those who tried to destroy our Capitol just four years ago. We cannot normalize that action.

That’s my pledge to you. I will not normalize Donald Trump, JD Vance, or their incoming Administration’s policies. As an independent journalist, my job is to give you the facts as presented. That’s not all. It is also to hold those in political leadership accountable and to seek the unvarnished truth. No matter what happens today or over the next four years, know that my commitment to you will hold. And, because I am providing you this news on Substack, my work is not controlled by any billionaire. I have and always will have full editorial control of my work. If you want to support my work, please click the button below to become a paid subscriber:

Many folks ask me why I do this work, and the answer is simple: there aren’t enough young people in media. Legacy media has failed young Americans, and Americans generally, by not elevating young voices, while simultaneously elevating opinionated and biased talking heads to deliver the “news.” It’s not right, and I am working to try to change that.

And so, while the threat to independent journalism is at its greatest point in history, know that I am not going anywhere.

I will be back in the morning with my morning news update.

Aaron