Trump formally asserts executive privilege in legal fight over Kennedy Center’s closure

October 15, 2026 / 11:54 AM EDT / CBS News

Washington — President Trump has formally invoked executive privilege to shield certain records from Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio as part of her ongoing legal challenge to the president's effort to temporarily shutter the Kennedy Center for renovations.

White House deputy counsel Joshua Hoyt informed a federal judge on Wednesday of Mr. Trump's formal assertion of the presidential communications privilege, a form of executive privilege. Hoyt said it covers information, documents or communications between Mr. Trump, his advisers and Kennedy Center employees about the president's duties and "the effective functioning" of the performing arts institution.

Hoyt argued that because the president appoints members of the Kennedy Center's board and a related Advisory Committee on the Arts, he must "familiarize himself" with the institution's management, operations, fundraising efforts and planned activities.

"I believe that, without the protection of the presidential communications privilege over the communications described above, presidential advisors and their staff members would be chilled from gathering relevant information, exploring alternatives, and providing fully informed recommendations regarding the performance of the President's duties," the White House lawyer wrote in a declaration.

In a separate filing, Justice Department lawyers accused…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/