Trump photographed looking over 'Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED' placard

The photos were taken through a cabin window on Air Force One.

President Donald Trump was photographed on Wednesday night looking over a placard that appeared to include the words "Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED" over what appeared to be an image of a demolition.

The photos were taken through a cabin window on Air Force One by Agence France-Presse photojournalist Brendan Smialowski, who was acting as the pool photographer for White House coverage, as Trump landed at Joint Base Andrews.

President Donald Trump is seen aboard Air Force One after landing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Sept. 16, 2026.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesRelatedTrump says Kennedy Center could be 'ripped down' if he doesn't get 'recognition'It was not immediately clear what the full contents of the placard were or how they were generated. The published images don't show the entire placard and the word that appears to be "DEMOLISHED" was not entirely visible, cut off as "DEMOLIS."

ABC News has reached out to the White House for comment.

The images were published on Wednesday evening, shortly after the president said the performing arts center could "close" or be "ripped down" if his administration doesn't receive recognition on the performing arts site.

President Donald Trump is seen aboard Air Force One after landing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Sept. 16, 2026.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images"I think that the Trump administration should certainly have recognition. Because frankly, if we don't do that, it's going to close. It'll end up being ripped down," the president told reporters on the tarmac in North Carolina.

In a federal court filing Thursday morning, Kennedy Center executive director Matt Floca said the current closure of the main building is only "temporary," set to last for seven days, and will be reevaluated on a weekly basis. 

Congress last year appropriated $257 million for needed renovations. But Trump said in a social media post on Tuesday that those renovations will not take place unless his name is again added onto the building.

His name had been added to the center's exterior after the Trump-controlled board voted in December to rename the building the "Trump-Kennedy Center."

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in May that Trump's name had to come down. Cooper wrote in a decision that the center's rebranding violated the law. He ordered that Trump's name be removed from the building within two weeks.

In July, a panel of D.C. Circuit appeals court judges rejected a request by Trump and fellow members of the center's board to stay the court's order that Trump's name be removed from the building.

Last month, the Kennedy Center board members -- who Trump last year replaced with his allies -- voted to close the famed cultural institution for a two-year renovation. They voted on Tuesday to close the building immediately.

President Donald Trump is seen aboard Air Force One checking a Kennedy Center large printout after landing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Sept. 16, 2026.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesAlso on Tuesday, Cooper issued a written order blocking any attempt to add Trump's name to the building, concluding it violated a previous court order and congressional statute. 

"Simply put, Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress's blessing," Cooper wrote. "The board resolution bucks a federal court order and a statute Congress enacted."

ABC News' Karen Travers, Michelle Stoddart, Devin Garbitt and Steven Portnoy contributed to this report.