A recent photo shows President Donald Trump looking at a poster that appears to reference the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts being demolished. This comes hours after Trump warned that the building "will end up being ripped down" if he is not properly recognized for his efforts to renovate it.
Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio, is contesting Trump's attempts to have his name affixed to the Kennedy Center. She informed a federal judge on Thursday about the image and Trump's warning in a court filing. Beatty had previously requested Judge Christopher Cooper to schedule an emergency hearing regarding what she claims is the "unlawful" closure of the Kennedy Center by its board of trustees, which she argues violates a prior order by Cooper.
In her filing, Beatty's lawyers stated, "Plaintiff files this Notice to apprise the Court of two new pieces of evidence that came to light last night." They referenced Trump's comments made in response to reporters about the Kennedy Center project, where he stated, "for the Trump administration, for me, to get involved, and to take on long term, and to carry it, or to raise money to carry it, I think that the Trump administration should certainly have recognition." Trump added, "Because frankly, if we don't do that, it's going to close, it will end up being ripped down."
Additionally, the filing included a photo that has circulated on social media showing Trump reading a placard on Air Force One that appears to read "Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED."
In a second filing, Beatty's lawyers requested an order clarifying that any demolition of the building or actions making public access impossible would violate the existing court order.
The Department of Justice responded by stating that Beatty's request for a hearing should be denied. They noted that the center's executive director, Matt Floca, decided to temporarily close the center due to "acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration at the center." This closure is set to last for seven days unless extended, while Floca assesses safety risks.
The DOJ's filing indicated that Cooper had previously enjoined Trump and the board from taking steps to implement the board's decision to close the center for repairs. The DOJ argued that the defendants are in compliance with this order and that the temporary closure is necessary for safety.
Beatty's lawyers countered that the DOJ's explanation for the closure does not align with the record, asserting that the rationale for a temporary closure is merely a pretext for a permanent shutdown. They emphasized the need for a hearing to clarify the defendants' actions.
Beatty, who is an ex officio member of the center's board, noted that the center's closure followed Cooper's rejection of a new effort by the Kennedy Center's board to honor Trump by naming the center after him. Trump stated that renovations would not proceed until Cooper's ruling against the name addition was overturned.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment regarding the photo. In a statement, Beatty's lawyers expressed concern that the closure without the judge's approval appears to violate his order, asserting that no one, including the president, is above the law.
Two nieces of former President Kennedy criticized Trump's position on the center. Kerry Kennedy described the situation as a tragedy, while Maria Shriver expressed disbelief that a sitting president would condition public building renovations on personal recognition, calling it a sad state of affairs.