The Trump administration targeted the Associated Press over the rights to an iconic photograph taken of President Donald Trump following an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to a report by The New York Times.
White House aides connected the ban on the AP from the Oval Office and Air Force One to the news agency's refusal to grant the administration rights to the widely circulated image captured by photographer Evan Vucci. The Times cited two individuals briefed on a private lunch between Trump and network anchors in 2025.
The AP had been banned from the White House shortly after Trump's inauguration in 2025 due to the outlet's continued use of the term "Gulf of Mexico," which the president had renamed the "Gulf of America." This dispute over nomenclature had already led to a First Amendment legal battle.
A spokesperson for the AP stated, "We’re focused on continuing to stand for the right of the public and the press to speak freely without government retaliation or control." The White House has not officially communicated the photo rights dispute as a reason for the ban, according to a source.
Trump was rushed offstage by Secret Service agents after sustaining a graze wound to his upper right ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. The incident occurred months before the presidential election and was followed by several other alleged threats against his life.
The gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired from a nearby rooftop. The attack resulted in the death of firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was shielding his family, and wounded two other men. A Secret Service sniper fatally shot Crooks during the incident.
Vucci's photograph, showing Trump with his fist raised and blood visible on his face, quickly became a prominent image, appearing on front pages globally. Vucci described the moment as one of intense focus, aiming to capture a significant historical event. He noted his intention to include the American flag in the background of the shot as Trump emerged from behind agents.
"That’s where I was when he was coming down… and that's the photo a lot of people are sharing," Vucci previously told Fox News Digital.
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The Associated Press has been a frequent point of contention with the Trump White House since the president's election in 2024.
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