I am Boycotting the White House in Solidarity with the Associated Press

If I get invited to the White House for the press briefing, I will say no. Their attack on journalism is too great to remain silent.

We are living in a very dangerous time for media in this country. The very foundations of democracy—freedom of speech and a free press—are under direct attack by the White House. Right now, the Trump administration is actively blocking the Associated Press, one of the most respected and credible news outlets in the world, from entering the Oval Office or boarding Air Force One simply because the organization refuses to conform to the White House’s editorial standards.

This is not just a petty dispute between a news organization and the government; this is a direct assault on the First Amendment and the independence of the press. By silencing a major news outlet, the White House is sending a chilling message: they want to control the narrative at any cost, including the suppression of free speech and the freedom of the press.

What is even more alarming is that this attack on the press is happening at a time when the rest of the media landscape seems unwilling to fight back. Major media companies, many of which are supposed to be the watchdogs of democracy, have been eerily silent. Instead of standing in solidarity with the Associated Press and calling out this blatant censorship, many in the media are either capitulating to the White House’s demands or staying silent out of fear. This passive complicity is allowing the erosion of media independence and the weakening of the checks and balances that are so essential to a healthy democracy.

Independent journalism is one of the cornerstones of a free society. It holds power to account, brings truth to light, and ensures that those in power cannot operate unchecked. When that independence is compromised—when news organizations are forced to bend to the will of political powers—democracy itself is weakened.

The silence of other media organizations in the face of these blatant attacks is unacceptable. It’s not enough to merely publish articles or offer opinions about what’s happening. We need action. We need journalists, newsrooms, and media outlets to stand firm and push back against this growing threat. The Trump administration is not just attacking one news organization; they are attacking the very concept of a free and independent press. And if we allow this to go unchecked, what comes next?

That’s why, today, I am making a public pledge: If I am ever invited to the White House, whether to attend a press briefing or for any other reason, I will say no. I will not be complicit in the administration’s attack on the media, and I will not be silent in the face of these efforts to stifle free speech. I stand with the Associated Press and its unwavering commitment to editorial independence. So long as the White House continues to bar the Associated Press, I will continue to boycott the White House.

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The time to act is now. We cannot afford to let these assaults on the press go unchallenged. We cannot afford to remain passive while the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment are under siege. We must speak up, stand together, and demand that the media be free to do its job without fear of retaliation or censorship. I hope other media companies will join me.