Karoline Leavitt blasts Kaitlan Collins over Gulf of America query: 'We decide who gets into Oval Office'

WASHINGTON, DC: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stood her ground as she recently schooled CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins that the "Gulf of America" is "a fact."

The almost heated conversation followed questions from Collins about the White House's decision to bar the Associated Press from two of President Donald Trump's press availability events.

Karoline Leavitt justifies AP's exclusion from Oval Office due to its 'Gulf of America' stance

While praising the First Amendment and free expression, CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins questioned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt about the Trump administration's decision to exclude the AP from specific press areas.

According to the AP, the move was taken because the Gulf of Mexico stylebook entry was not modified to read "Gulf of America." The AP released an announcement on January 23 explaining why it was reluctant to accept the new name.

"The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen," the statement explained.

However, in a dispute with Collins during a news briefing on Wednesday, February 12, Leavitt clarified that this will not be changing anytime soon.

Collins asked that Leavitt name the White House official who prevented Associated Press reporters from attending an Oval Office function on Monday afternoon and a meeting in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room on Tuesday night, per The Western Journal.

Although Leavitt never directly answered that question, she said, "First of all, let me just set the record straight. It is a privilege to cover this White House. It is a privilege to be the White House press secretary."

"And nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask a president of the United States questions. That is an invitation that is given … We reserve the right to decide who gets to go into the Oval Office, and you all have credentials to be here, including The Associated Press, who is in this briefing room today," Leavitt added.

According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration prevented the reporters because the news outlet would not use the "Gulf of America" to describe the body of water that Trump renamed by administrative order on his first day in office.

Collins further pressed the issue, asking whether the White House action wasn't an implicit challenge to the Trump administration's adherence to press freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Collins asked, "Is this setting a precedent that this White House will retaliate against reporters who don’t use the language that you guys believe reporters should use?"

Leavitt wasn't backing down, claiming that the US Department of the Interior officially uses the new name and that Google, the massive tech company, has adopted it for customers headquartered in the United States.

"I was very upfront in my briefing on day one,  that if we feel that there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable," Leavitt retaliated.

"It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America, and I am not sure why news outlets don’t want to call it that, but that is what it is," she added.

Karoline Leavitt's AP's exclusion justification drew mixed reactions online

Social media users immediately reacted negatively to Karoline Leavitt's statement, citing George Orwell's Orwellian classic '1984' and accusing the Trump White House of attempting to control language.

One user wrote on Bluesky, "Everyone knows it is retaliatory. Everyone knows Leavitt and The Party lies."

Another user added, "So they DO understand the importance of using a preferred name over a given name when it comes to identity?"

Someone else added, "A fact? The gaslighting is intolerable," while another simply commented, "1984."

"The Trump White House is now policing language," said one, while another added, "It will always be The Gulf of Mexico, regardless what that narcissist renamed it!"

Another seethed, "No that’s not a fact. And you can’t libel an inanimate object, so it’s free speech to call it Gulf of Mexico as the rest of the world does. The only ppl calling it the new thing are Trump sycophants. He can call it whatever he wants he can’t officially rename it."

Several others supported Leavitt's statement on X (formerly Twitter) as one wrote, "We have a superstar in press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Making press briefings great again."

Another X user said, "The current White House press secretary definitely has more presence compared to the previous one. There’s no need to be polite with these unfavorable media outlets."

"Karoline is awesome ! Watching her perform, reassures me America is back! So young and talented, Wow!" exclaimed one.

"Karoline Leavitt is slaying this job! Her future is SO bright!" chimed in one.

Another remarked, "Kaitlan is no match for Karoline. Karoline is the beauty and the press beast in one. She’s great!"

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