NYT
Are Trump’s Official Papers His Personal Property?
Thursday, September 17, 2026
The Trump administration has argued that presidential papers should be classified as personal property, drawing a comparison to documents held by Supreme Court justices. The administration's legal position centers on whether papers created during a presidency belong to the sitting president or become property of the federal government upon leaving office. This classification question affects ongoing disputes over document retention and access following the 2024 presidential transition.
