Donald Trump just pulled a bold legal card in his fight over the Kennedy Center, and it’s raising serious questions about presidential power. The president invoked a rarely used privilege to block information requests in the ongoing court battle over the iconic venue’s future.
Donald Trump reportedly invokes executive privilege in Kennedy Center fight
President Donald Trump has formally invoked executive privilege in the legal battle over his management of the Kennedy Center, NBC News reported. White House deputy counsel Joshua Hoyt stated in a court filing that Trump directed the invocation. It covers information, documents, and communications related to the center’s management and operation.
The privilege claim responds to a lawsuit from Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio board member. Beatty has challenged Trump’s efforts to add his name to the building’s front. She has also contested his directive to close the center for two years of renovations.
Trump named himself to the board last year and was voted chairman by his handpicked members. He directed the center’s closure in a February social media post. He has since stated that renovations will not proceed without “recognition” for his efforts.
Beatty’s attorneys pushed back firmly against the privilege claim. “Donald Trump appointed himself as chair of the non-profit board of the Kennedy Center, and is now trying to shield his management by improperly invoking executive privilege,” lawyers Norm Eisen and Nathaniel Zelinsky said. They added that “this kind of cover-up is a direct assault on the rule of law.”
The Justice Department countered that Beatty’s document requests amounted to a “fishing expedition.” Government lawyers argued Trump’s involvement with the center “is undoubtedly in his official capacity.” Beatty’s legal team maintained that the Kennedy Center is not part of the executive branch. They argued Trump “voluntarily assumed the ‘usual powers and obligations of a trustee.’”
The center closed on Sept. 15 for emergency safety assessments and has not reopened. Federal Judge Christopher Cooper has not yet ruled on the privilege dispute.
