US Lobbying 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 a social media post announcing 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 announcement was taken down after the White House reportedly told Von Batten that Nigerian government officials had repeatedly contacted the administration to express concerns over the purported appointment.
In a statement published on X on Saturday, the lobbying company alleged that the Nigerian Presidency initially disputed Von Batten’s appointment by Trump before reaching out to the White House to verify whether the claim was accurate.
The firm said the White House subsequently confirmed that Von Batten had been appointed to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. Following the confirmation, the company accused the Nigerian government of attempting to undermine its managing partner.
According to the firm, the announcement was deleted after Von Batten was informed that Nigerian officials had repeatedly contacted the White House to complain 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 further explained that the decision to remove the post was not intended to create any inconvenience for the White House. The firm said Von Batten had apologised to the administration over the calls.
The development comes amid an increasingly heated exchange between the US lobbying firm and officials of President Bola Tinubu’s administration over Von Batten’s activities in the United States.
In recent weeks, the firm has stepped up its scrutiny of Tinubu’s past dealings with US drug enforcement authorities. Von Batten’s company has pursued Freedom of Information Act requests and legal actions aimed at obtaining relevant records from American government agencies.
The lobbying firm has also alleged that senior Nigerian government officials diverted US funded World Bank loans. It said the allegations were among issues Von Batten had raised with senior members of President Trump’s team.
Von Batten’s firm further claimed that the Tinubu administration had become increasingly concerned about its activities in the United States. It alleged that the President’s spokesperson and Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, as well as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had criticised the company or its managing partner.
The Nigerian Presidency, however, has challenged the significance attached to 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 a White House policymaking position.
He also stressed that the commission does not have responsibility for US foreign policy, national security, diplomacy or relations with Nigeria.
The clarification followed an earlier announcement by the lobbying firm that Von Batten had been selected to serve as a commissioner on a presidential commission.
In the now deleted announcement, the firm described the appointment as a major honour and said Von Batten was grateful to Trump for the confidence placed in him.
Speaking on the controversy, Von Batten said he was proud to have been considered for a position within the Trump administration, regardless of whether the role was paid or unpaid.
He explained that his involvement centred on recognising outstanding American students and had no connection with US foreign policy.
The dispute has attracted particular attention because Von Batten’s lobbying firm was hired earlier this year by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, to protect and strengthen his reputation in the United States ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Also Read: US Lobbying Firm Calls on Trump to Sanction INEC Officials Over ADC Crisis
The 12 month lobbying agreement was reportedly worth $1.2 million.
Since obtaining the contract, the firm has become increasingly vocal in its criticism of the Tinubu administration and has continued pursuing US government records connected to allegations involving the Nigerian president.
