President Donald Trump was photographed aboard Air Force One examining a poster that read “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED” in prominent red lettering. The images, captured by Getty Images on September 16, were taken through a window at Joint Base Andrews following the President’s return from a campaign trip to North Carolina. The graphic displayed what appeared to be an illustration of the performing arts venue beneath the text.
This incident occurred just hours after the President publicly stated that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts would “end up being ripped down” should significant renovations not proceed. Proponents of the closure, including officials aligned with the administration, maintain that the aging facility poses safety risks to the public that necessitate a comprehensive overhaul.
In response to the development, Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio and plaintiff in a lawsuit concerning the center, has introduced the photograph into federal court records. She is currently pursuing an emergency hearing, requesting that a judge intervene to halt the building’s closure. The White House has not offered an explanation regarding the contents of the poster.
The facility’s board, which is largely composed of presidential appointees with Trump acting as chairman, voted on September 15 to shut the center down immediately for a two-year renovation project. Staff members erected perimeter fencing shortly thereafter. However, the President has explicitly conditioned his support for the project on the reversal of a ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who blocked plans to add an inscription stating the site was “renovated and restored by Donald J. Trump.”
Judge Cooper ruled that the proposed signage would contravene his previous May order—which required the removal of the President’s name from the center—and would violate the 1964 legislation originally establishing the institution as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy following his assassination. While Congress has already authorized $257 million for the project, the Justice Department and the President contend that the renovation cannot be fully realized without an additional $100 million they aim to secure through presidential fundraising efforts. The report also notes that 15 to close the center immediately to undergo two-year renovations that Trump has vowed to help pay for. The report also notes that the work can’t be completed, but Trump and the Justice Department argue that without the president’s additional fundraising aiming for more than $100 million. The report also notes that although the content is not entirely clear, below the phrase appears to be an image of the center. The report also notes that reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.