A photograph of President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One facing a sign reading “Kennedy Center DEMOLITION” has been submitted as fresh evidence in a federal court case, hours after a Trump-appointed board voted to close the venue and a judge blocked its renaming after the president.
A photograph showing President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One facing a large poster reading “Kennedy Center DEMOLITION” has added new urgency to an ongoing legal battle over the future of the Washington performing arts venue. The image emerged just days after a Trump-appointed leadership panel voted to close the Kennedy Center, citing the need for “urgent repairs,” and only hours after a federal judge blocked an attempt to rename the building after the president. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and Kennedy Center trustee, has now asked the judge overseeing the case to consider the photograph alongside fresh comments from Trump as evidence of his intentions for the building.
New evidence submitted to court
Beatty’s lawyers told the court that two pieces of evidence had “come to light” within the past 24 hours relating to Trump’s apparent plans for the Kennedy Center, and urged the judge to intervene promptly in response. Alongside the Air Force One photograph, the filing pointed to remarks Trump made to reporters on Wednesday evening, in which he suggested that the necessary repairs to the ageing venue might not proceed unless his name is added to its facade.
Trump told reporters that his administration “should be recognized” for any upgrades made to the Kennedy Center, and said that taking on the project for the “long term” would require years of financial support exceeding the more than $250 million already approved by Congress for the centre’s restoration. “Because frankly, if we don’t do that, it’s going to close,” Trump said. “It’ll end up being ripped down. It’s in very, very bad shape, very dangerous shape.”
Judge blocked renaming bid this week
The developments follow a ruling on Tuesday by US District Judge Christopher Cooper, who blocked Trump’s latest attempt to attach his name to the Kennedy Center and to rename the surrounding grounds “President Donald J Trump Plaza.” The renaming effort has been the subject of months of contested litigation.
According to an emergency filing submitted by Beatty, the Trump-aligned Kennedy Center board voted to close the building for renovations shortly after Judge Cooper’s order, and fencing was subsequently installed around its perimeter. Beatty also said a member of her staff had been denied entry to the main building, prompting her request for the court to step in.
Judge sets deadline for administration response
Judge Cooper has given the Trump administration until 10am on Thursday to respond to the latest filing, and said he intended to schedule a “prompt hearing” to consider the matter further if necessary. In an earlier filing this week, Beatty’s lawyers raised concerns that the closure could be used to restrict public access to the building indefinitely. “Given the unexplained and unlawful closure, it is possible Defendants intend to undertake immediate steps in order to make public access practically impossible for the foreseeable future, including by demolishing public avenues of access to the building, and thereby evade the court’s order,” they said.
