A federal judge handed President Donald Trump a major win on Monday, denying the Associated Press’ (AP) emergency motion to restore its full access to White House events, upholding the administration’s ban on the news outlet. Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee in Washington, D.C., ruled the AP’s exclusion from certain presidential events—like Oval Office briefings and Air Force One trips—doesn’t violate constitutional rights, siding with the White House’s claim that such access is a “privilege, not a legal right.” For conservatives, this is a victory for press accountability and a blow to the liberal media’s whining.

The AP’s lawsuit, filed last week, accused White House officials—Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt—of retaliating for the outlet’s refusal to use the administration’s preferred term, “Gulf of America,” instead of “Gulf of Mexico.” The ban, imposed earlier this month, stripped AP reporters from the White House press pool, prompting their legal push.

“This is a quintessentially discretionary presidential choice that infringes no constitutional right,” Justice Department lawyer Brian Hudak argued in court filings, defending the move as Trump’s personal decision.

McFadden agreed, rejecting the AP’s claim of a First Amendment violation.

“Asking the President of the United States questions in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One is a privilege granted to journalists, not a legal right,” the White House stated after the ruling.

AP spokesperson Lauren Easton fired back, vowing to “continue to stand for the right of the press and the public to speak freely without government retaliation.” But conservatives see this as the AP getting a taste of its own medicine—years of bias against Trump, from Russia collusion to Hunter Biden’s laptop, finally facing pushback.

The standoff escalated after the White House banned AP over its naming dispute, part of Trump’s broader push to reshape federal naming conventions. Budowich defended the move on X, posting, “The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America.”

Posts on X cheered the ruling—one user wrote, “AP’s been anti-Trump for years—now they cry foul? Good riddance.” Another added, “Trump’s showing the media they don’t run the show.”

Republicans know this isn’t about press freedom—it’s about accountability. The AP’s bias tanked its credibility, and Trump’s team isn’t budging. With over 70 lawsuits challenging his initiatives, this win proves the courts aren’t all against him. Trump’s January 20 “emergency price relief” memo signals the broader fight—restore order, demand loyalty, and prioritize Americans. The GOP’s ready to back him, ensuring the media faces the same scrutiny they’ve dished out for years.