US Firm Reveals Why It Deleted Trump Appointment Claim
A United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has explained why it deleted its social media announcement claiming that its managing partner, Dr Karl Von Batten, had been appointed by US President Donald Trump to a White House commission.
The firm said the post was removed after the White House reportedly informed Von Batten that Nigerian government officials had repeatedly contacted the administration to raise concerns over the purported appointment.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, the firm alleged that the Nigerian Presidency initially denied that Von Batten had been appointed by Trump before contacting the White House to verify the claim.
The firm said the White House subsequently confirmed that Von Batten had been appointed to the Commission on Presidential Scholars, prompting the lobbying company to accuse the Nigerian government of attempting to undermine its managing partner.
According to the firm, it deleted the announcement after Von Batten was informed that Nigerian officials were repeatedly calling the White House and complaining about his appointment.
The firm said, “We deleted the post after the White House informed Dr. Von Batten that the ‘silly’ Nigerian government was repeatedly calling and ‘whining’ about the appointment.”
It added that the deletion was not intended to cause any inconvenience to the White House, saying Von Batten had apologised to the administration for the calls.
The latest development comes amid an escalating war of words between the lobbying firm and officials of President Bola Tinubu’s administration over Von Batten’s activities in the United States.
The firm has in recent weeks intensified its scrutiny of Tinubu’s past dealings with US drug-enforcement authorities, including through Freedom of Information Act requests and lawsuits seeking access to relevant American government records.
It has also accused senior Nigerian government officials of misappropriating US-funded World Bank loans, claims the firm said Von Batten had raised with senior members of Trump’s team.
The lobbying company further alleged that the Tinubu administration had become increasingly concerned about its activities, claiming that the President’s spokesperson, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication Sunday Dare, and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo had all criticised the firm or its managing partner.
However, the Nigerian Presidency has disputed the significance of Von Batten’s purported appointment.
Dare had earlier clarified that Von Batten was appointed to the Commission on Presidential Scholars, an education-related body administered by the US Department of Education, rather than to a White House policymaking position.
He stressed that the commission had no responsibility for US foreign policy, national security, diplomacy or relations with Nigeria.
The clarification followed the lobbying firm’s earlier announcement that Von Batten had been appointed to serve as a commissioner on a presidential commission.
In its deleted post, the firm had described the appointment as a major honour and said Von Batten was grateful to Trump for the confidence placed in him.
Responding to the controversy, Von Batten said he was proud to have been considered for a role in the Trump administration, whether paid or unpaid.
He said his involvement was focused on helping recognise outstanding American students and had nothing to do with foreign policy.
The controversy has gained significance because Von Batten’s firm was hired earlier this year by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to protect and strengthen his reputation in the United States ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The 12-month lobbying agreement was reportedly valued at $1.2 million.
Since securing the contract, the firm has become increasingly vocal in its criticism of the Tinubu administration and has pursued US government records relating to allegations concerning the Nigerian president.
