The New York Times reports that President Trump’s administration targeted the Associated Press (AP) over rights to an iconic photograph taken during a 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. This dispute contributed to the AP's ban from accessing the Oval Office and Air Force One shortly after Trump took office. The AP denied granting photo rights to the White House and stated that they continue to fight for press freedom against government retaliation or control. A spokesperson for the AP noted that the administration has not communicated this reasoning directly to them.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In early 2025, shortly after Donald Trump was inaugurated as president following his election in 2024, the Associated Press (AP) faced a ban from accessing the Oval Office and Air Force One. This conflict arose partly due to the AP's refusal to grant rights to an iconic photograph taken by Evan Vucci after an assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The photo showed Trump with his fist raised and blood visible on his face. According to a New York Times report based on anonymous sources briefed about a private lunch between Trump and network anchors, the White House also cited the AP's continued use of "Gulf of Mexico" instead of Trump's preferred term, "Gulf of America," as a reason for the ban. The AP has challenged this move legally, arguing that it protects the public’s right to free speech without government interference.
Written for “Trump Photo Controversy” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
President Donald Trump's administration targeted the Associated Press (AP) over rights to the iconic photo of the president in Butler, Pennsylvania, taken after an assassination attempt, according to a New York Times report.
uncertain
administration → target → report
The AP has repeatedly sparred with the Trump White House after the president was elected in 2024.
asserted
president → spar → 2024
The outlet was banned from the Oval Office and Air Force One shortly after Trump was inaugurated because the AP continued to use "Gulf of Mexico" after the president renamed it the Gulf of America in 2025.
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president → ban → 2025
The ban has led to a First Amendment battle in court.
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ban → lead → court
However, according to the Times, White House aides also connected the ban to the AP's refusal to give them rights to the infamous photo of the president after he was shot.
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he → accord → president
The Times cited two people briefed on a private lunch with Trump and network anchors in 2025.
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Times → cite → 2025
"We’re focused on continuing to stand for the right of the public and the press to speak freely without government retaliation or control," a spokesman for the AP told Fox News Digital in a statement in response to the claim.
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spokesman → focus → claim
A source added the White House has not communicated this reasoning to the AP.
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House → add → AP
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
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House → respond → comment
Trump was rushed offstage by Secret Service agents after gunfire grazed his upper right ear during his July 13, 2024, rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
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gunfire → rush → Butler
The attack came months before Trump’s re-election and preceded a series of later alleged attempts and reported threats against his life.
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attack → come → life
The president was mid-sentence, pointing to a chart on illegal immigration under the Biden administration, when gunshots pierced the air at his Butler rally.
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gunshots → point → rally
Authorities identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired from the roof of a nearby building.
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who → identify → building
Secret Service agents tackled Trump to the ground.
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agents → tackle → ground
Moments later, as they rose to escort him to his motorcade, Trump emerged from the huddle.
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Trump → rise → huddle
Trump raised his fist high in the air, and said "fight" three times, prompting the audience to erupt and chant "U-S-A!" as he exited.
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he → raise → A
The gunman killed firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was shielding his family, and wounded two other men.
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who → kill → men
A Secret Service sniper killed Crooks during the attack.
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sniper → kill → attack
A photo of Trump, captured by Evan Vucci of the AP, with his fist raised and blood visible on his face, quickly went viral and landed on the front pages of newspapers across the world.
"I was literally just thinking about doing the best possible job I could, because I knew that this was a moment in American history that I had to be at the top of my game for," Vucci told Fox News Digital in July 2024, after the assassination attempt.
"
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Vucci → capture → attempt
I knew immediately it was gunfire.
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it → know → ?
I trained my lens on the stage, and I saw Secret Service agents going to run to the president, covering him up.
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agents → train → him
And from that moment, I ran to the stage and I got my wide angle lens, and I started making photographs.
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I → run → photographs
I went into work mode," Vucci said.
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Vucci → go → mode
"I knew immediately that it was going to be one of the most important things I'll ever photograph, and that I needed to do the best job possible."
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I → know → job
Vucci switched to a wide angle to ensure the flag flying above got in his shot.
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flag → switch → shot
He noticed an SUV parked at the side of the stage as Secret Service agents covered Trump and chaos erupted around him.
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chaos → notice → him
Vucci said he "sprinted" to the side of the stage, assuming it was where Trump would exit, and got in position to snap photos as Trump pumped his fist toward the crowd.
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Trump → say → crowd
"That’s where I was when he was coming down… and that's the photo a lot of people are sharing," he said.
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he → ’ → people
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.
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Flood → contribute → report
