In this combination photo, the SAG-AFTRA logo appears on screen at the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles and President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Jan. 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo)
LOS ANGELES --
The SAG-AFTRA National Board, meeting via Zoom videoconference Saturday (2/6), passed a resolution preemptively denying any potential re-admission applications by former member Donald J. Trump.
The resolution cites the same concerns that prompted the initial disciplinary charges — which were resolved by Trump’s resignation Thursday — notably his antagonism of the union’s journalist members and disregard for the values and integrity of the union.
“Preventing Donald Trump from ever rejoining SAG-AFTRA is more than a symbolic step,” said Gabrielle Carteris, president of SAG-AFTRA. “It is a resounding statement that threatening or inciting harm against fellow members will not be tolerated. An attack against one is an attack against all.”
President Donald Trump speaks at the Governors Working Session in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Pool via AP)
The Associated Press sued three Trump administration officials Friday over access to presidential events, citing freedom of speech in asking a federal judge to stop the 10-day blocking of its journalists.
The lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
The AP says its case is about an unconstitutional effort by the White House to control speech — in this case refusing to change its style from the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," as President Donald Trump did last month with an executive order.
"The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government," the AP said in its lawsuit, which names White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
"This targeted attack on the AP's editorial independence and ability to gather and report the news strikes at the very core of the First Amendment," the news agency said. "This court should remedy it immediately."
In stopping the AP from attending press events at the White House and Mar-a-Lago, or flying on Air Force One in the agency's customary spot, the Trump team directly cited the AP's decision not to fully follow the president's renaming.
"We're going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it's the Gulf of America," Trump said Tuesday.
This week, about 40 news organizations signed onto a letter organized by the White House Correspondents Association, urging the White House to reverse its policy against the AP.
