Trump’s Kennedy Center photo-op could land him in trouble with judge: filing

President Donald Trump's administration is back in court Thursday morning over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Wednesday night, AFP/ Getty photographer Brendan Smialowski captured pictures of a giant poster board inside of President Donald Trump's Marine One helicopter as he was landing at the White House. Through the windows, it was clearly seen that he was looking at something that read, "Kennedy Center demolish" or "demolishing."

Former CBS News reporter Seth MacFarlane reported that Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), the only non-Trump nominee left on the Kennedy Center board, alerted the judge to the photo, showing that Trump is considering demolishing the building.

The judge is set to discuss on Thursday. The photos resulted in a quick filing from Beatty saying that the first indication was a comment from Trump to the media: "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. Because frankly, if we don’t do that, it’s going to close, it will end up being ripped down."

The second piece of concern was the photo from Smialowski.

"Given the emergency nature of this matter and Defendants’ 10 a.m. filing deadline for their response to Plaintiff’s motion, Plaintiff wanted to make sure the Court and Defendants are aware of this new information," the filing said.

The issue all comes from Trump’s effort to attach his name to a memorial for slain President John F. Kennedy, and the legal limits on presidential power. The memorial for Kennedy was established by Congress, funded, in part, by Congress, and largely controlled by Congress. After Trump bulldozed the White House, his renovation projects have drawn more significant scrutiny.

Trump moved in February 2025 to remove much of the Kennedy Center’s existing board, install allies and make himself chairman. The new board ruled to change programming and leadership, which prompted backlash from artists, ticket buyers and some board members. As a result, several performers and companies canceled appearances, indicating they didn't want to be associated with performing at a Trump-named property or for Trump.

Federal Judge Christopher Cooper previously ruled that Congress created the John F. Kennedy Center as a memorial to JFK and that only Congress, not Trump or a trustee board, can change its name or add a presidential memorial there. Trump was also blocked from adding a plaque of his name, statue of himself, or any other items highlighting himself to the building.