By Per Second News
Nigerian-born lobbyist Karl Okeke Von Batten has deleted the social-media post announcing that United States President Donald Trump appointed him to a “White House presidential commission.”
Checks by Per Second News on Friday confirmed that the original post on the verified X account of Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., now displays the message: “This page doesn’t exist.” The firm’s X account remains active.
Von Batten’s firm had announced that Trump appointed its managing partner as a commissioner but did not initially identify the commission, explain his responsibilities or provide an official appointment letter.
Senior administration officials familiar with the matter told Per Second News that White House officials were uncomfortable with the post and the impression it created that Von Batten had been appointed to a White House policymaking position.
Per Second News subsequently established that the appointment was to the Commission on Presidential Scholars, an education panel administered by the United States Department of Education.
The commission selects outstanding graduating high school students for national recognition. It has no responsibility for American foreign policy, national security, diplomacy or relations with Nigeria.
The announcement generated considerable attention in Nigeria because Von Batten’s firm represents former Vice-President and presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
The appointment does not make Von Batten a White House staff member or grant him policymaking authority within the Trump administration.
It could not be immediately established whether Von Batten’s firm deleted the post voluntarily or whether X removed it. There is also no official confirmation that the White House requested its removal.
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