Apparently, the Trump White House is now taking legal rulings as more of a polite suggestion than, you know, the law. In its latest power move, the administration has once again snubbed a federal court order by booting the Associated Press (AP) from a White House event. This time, it was a meeting between Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office—and AP reporters were told to take a hike.

This whole media mess started when the AP refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”—yes, really—after a Trump executive order tried to rename it. In retaliation, the Trump team revoked the AP’s press access to some White House events, seemingly for the unforgivable crime of geographical accuracy. Naturally, the AP sued, arguing that punishing a news outlet over editorial decisions might not be the healthiest move for democracy.

A federal judge agreed, ruling that the First Amendment doesn’t just vanish when someone in power gets cranky. The court ordered the administration to reinstate AP’s access. But instead of following that pesky thing called the law, the Trump administration went full toddler mode and just… didn’t. They’ve appealed the ruling and continue to freeze the AP out, arguing that no media outlet has a “constitutional right” to White House access.

Now sure, technically they’re not wrong—access isn’t an absolute guarantee. But the part they’re glossing over? You also can’t selectively exclude journalists just because they won’t parrot your talking points or bend to your rebranding whims.

Critics (read: anyone with a pulse and a vague understanding of civics) are sounding the alarm. This move isn’t just petty—it’s dangerous. It sets a precedent where press freedom hinges on how flattering your coverage is, which is about as anti-American as it gets.

So here we are: a major news outlet banned from the White House because it wouldn’t play make-believe with a map. It would be hilarious if it weren’t such a textbook example of how democracies slide into authoritarian absurdity.

People on social media spoke out, as Trump just brazenly ignoring court orders is the beginning of a constitutional crisis:

So, this is the constitutional crisis we’ve been expecting. The President is defying #SCOTUS. #Trump needs to be impeached and removed from office. Every member of Congress has sworn an oath to protect and defend the constitution from enemies foreign and domestic.

Act now.

— FogBelter (@FogBelter) April 14, 2025

NEW: An AP journalist was denied access to an Oval Office event with Donald Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, despite a ruling by a federal judge last week ordering the WH to restore The Associated Press’s full access to cover presidential events on First Amendment… pic.twitter.com/lUMGrhJ4Sn

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 14, 2025

With the detained American in El Salvador, with the barring of the Associated Press at the White House, the Trump administration is now openly defying clear court orders.

The rule of law has ended in the United States of America with a whimper, not a bang.

— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) April 14, 2025

Our democracy is dying before our eyes. Trump is beyond the law and the fault lies with John Roberts and a cowardly right-wing Supreme Court who ruled that the United States president is immune from prosecution. 😳👇 pic.twitter.com/TORz2QppzH

— Bill Madden (@maddenifico) April 14, 2025

America is now in a CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS says former (CONSERVATIVE) Federal Judge Michael Luttig AND former DOJ Andrew Weissmann. “We. Are.. Here!”

Donald Trump REFUSING to COMPLY with a UNANIMOUS SCOTUS RULING. #SCOTUS – do something! Our country is waiting!

— Sister Resister 🐕‍🦺🐈‍⬛🐾 (@GoodTroubleGran) April 14, 2025