Donald Trump seen holding 'demolition plans' for major US landmark

Donald Trump has been pictured aboard Air Force One holding what appear to be demolition plans for a major American landmark.

Days after the John F Kennedy Memorial Centre announced it would be closing down for good, the President was photographed holding a large cutout of what seems to be demolition plans for the arts venue, which was set for a $257million (£190million) renovation.

After the image of Mr Trump holding a board reading "Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED" circulated, US District Judge Christopher Cooper issued an order the White House could not demolish the centre without first giving 30 days' notice.

Mr Trump added his name to the centre last year - making its full name the Donald J Trump and John F Kennedy Memorial Centre.

But any reference to the 47th President was removed in June after Mr Cooper, the Obama-appointed judge, ruled that because Congress dedicated the name of the venue, its name could only be changed again by American lawmakers.

On Tuesday, the President shut the centre to prepare to "begin the process of reconstruction", adding the work would not continue unless he could be recognised with an inscription reading "renovated by Donald J Trump" underneath the current sign.

Mr Trump said before the court decision: "If the ruling is a negative one, which it should not be, and is not overturned by the US Supreme Court, the reconstruction and the renovation of the Kennedy Center will not take place."

Judge Cooper ruled the inscription could not be added, writing: "Simply put, defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Centre without Congress’s blessing."

Then, on Wednesday, the President told reporters the venue - which he previously accused of showing woke programming - was a "mess".

"The Kennedy Centre for many years has lost tens of millions of dollars, even hundreds of millions of dollars," he said.

"It'll end up being ripped down. It's in very, very bad shape, very dangerous shape. You see steel falling down. You see plaster falling off ceilings. You see a lot of dangers. It's been very badly maintained for 25 years.

"I'd like to be able to save it, but it's going to take a lot of subsidy into the future. And for us as an administration to want to do that, I think the Trump administration should be recognised."

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Matt Floca, the centre's executive director and chief operating officer, said the closure was needed because of "acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration" in a statement submitted to the court.

The Edward Stone-designed arts venue, which first opened in 1971, had a chunk of its ceiling collapse after heavy rain in Washington.

"Another warning we can't ignore," the Kennedy Centre posted on social media after the incident.

It added: "Thankfully no one was hurt. Decades of deferred maintenance made this inevitable.

"Chairman President Trump has been right: America’s cultural center needs to close, renovate, and be restored—now."

Mr Trump's comments to reporters and the photograph was submitted by Democratic congresswoman Joyce Beatty as evidence to the court as she fears the closure could become permanent.

Mrs Beatty, an ex-officio ex-officio member of the Kennedy Centre board, said in a statement the venue was "a sacred, living memorial to President Kennedy" and would continue to make ensure it was not "shuttered or demolished".

Her lawyers, Norm Eisen and Nathaniel Zelinsky, said in a statement: "The board cannot simply ignore Judge Cooper’s rulings whenever it suits them.

"In this country, no one - including the President - is above the law."