Trump's Glitzy Library Grift
5/6/202616 min
Last month, the Justice Department, in a startling move, issued a challenge the Presidential Records Act--saying that the bedrock law for keeping Oval Office archives available to the public goes too far. Ironic, considering how Donald Trump has boasted about his presidential library—the home of presidential archives—which renderings show to be a skyscraper (and possibly hotel) in downtown Miami.
Last summer, Brooke spoke with Tim Naftali, a Senior Research Scholar at the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, about how President Trump has raised millions of dollars his future presidential library already, and why it should matter to the rest of us.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
On The Media is supported by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it at progressive.com. Progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary, not available in all states. On The Media is supported by Viking, committed to exploring the world in comfort, offering destination-focused small ship experiences on all seven continents, with a shore excursion included in every port and programs designed for cultural enrichment. And every Viking voyage is all-inclusive, with no children and no casinos. Learn more at viking.com.
Brooke Gladstone· Host0:46
This is On The Media's midweek podcast. I'm Brooke Gladstone. So last month, amid the rush of news from the Justice Department, another troubling bulletin.
Speaker 20:57
In a new legal opinion, the department's Office of Legal Counsel ruled the Presidential Records Act goes too far, saying Congress cannot force the president to preserve and turn over records to the National Archives. The law has been in place since the 1970s, requiring presidents to treat official records as government property, not personal.
Brooke Gladstone· Host1:17
Given the administration's proclivity for obscuring information, the fact that it challenged the act wasn't a shock, but presidential records are the backbone of presidential libraries, and