The US president has threatened to tear down the famed arts venue because he has been blocked from renaming it after himself
2-MIN READ2-MINAgence France-PressePublished: 12:56am, 18 Sep 2026A photo of Donald Trump examining a depiction of Washington’s Kennedy Centre apparently being demolished sparked widespread attention on Thursday after the US president threatened to tear down the revered arts venue because he has been blocked from renaming it after himself.
In the image captured by Agence France-Presse photographer Brendan Smialowski late on Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews, the Republican leader was seen through the windows of Air Force One holding a placard with visible text in red declaring: “Kennedy Center DEMOLIS …”
The rest of the word was obscured by the plane’s window frame but Trump has mused repeatedly about razing the Washington arts venue.
Below the words is a large picture showing a yellow heavy construction vehicle scooping rubble from a torn-down building.
