Trump claims executive privilege to keep Kennedy Center conversations secret

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump is asserting broad executive privilege to keep confidential his conversations regarding plans to renovate the Kennedy Center, including discussions with both government and non-government advisers.
• The Justice Department claims Trump's role as Kennedy Center board chairman and president gives him an official capacity to oversee the center’s operations and assess board members' management.
• Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, involved in a lawsuit challenging the renovation and closure plans, disputes the executive privilege claims as improper and seeks disclosure of information about potential demolition plans.
• Earlier court actions include a federal judge blocking the Kennedy Center's closure for renovations due to insufficient consideration of financial and programming impacts, with the Justice Department requesting the order be lifted.
• Depositions have seen repeated invocations of executive privilege to limit testimony about Trump’s communications with Kennedy Center officials, complicating the ongoing legal dispute.