Photo of Trump, Mock Headline Adds to Kennedy Center Drama

A new photo is adding fuel to the already tangled fight over the Kennedy Center's future. Lawyers for Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty on Thursday flagged an image of President Trump aboard Air Force One studying a large printout whose headline appears to read "Kennedy Center DEMOLIS[HED]," casting it as fresh evidence in their federal court battle over the institution, reports the Washington Post. The photo was taken by AFP's Brendan Smialowski, and Newser does not have rights to the image. You can see it at outlets including CNBC.

The White House hasn't explained the mock headline. But it surfaced hours after Trump warned that the arts complex could be "ripped down" unless his name is added to the building to reflect his administration's renovations. Beatty, who is a Kennedy Center trustee, has been fighting in the courts to keep Trump's name off the building and to oppose the board's plan for a long-term closure of the center. "Given the emergency nature of this matter ... Plaintiff wanted to make sure the Court and Defendants are aware of this new information," Beatty's lawyers told the judge, referring to the new image.