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An AFP photo showing Donald Trump examining a rendering of Washington's Kennedy Center apparently being demolished generated attention on social media on Thursday, after the president threatened to tear down the cultural venue because the courts have prevented him from adding his name to it.
In the exclusive image captured by AFP photographer Brendan Smialowski on Wednesday night at Joint Base Andrews, the Republican president was seen through the windows of Air Force One holding a sign with visible red text that read: "Kennedy Center DEMOLIS..."
The rest of the word was hidden by the airplane's window frame, but Trump has repeatedly fantasized about razing the Washington site.
Below the words is a large image showing a yellow heavy construction vehicle picking up debris.
The AFP photos were viewed millions of times on social media and made headlines in many U.S. media outlets.
They were also included as evidence in a court filing submitted on Thursday by Joyce Beatty, a Democratic congresswoman from Ohio and member of the Kennedy Center board, who is challenging the reform of the institution pushed by Trump.
The White House did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.
With his approval rating hovering around 30% amid discontent over the war against Iran and the rising cost of living, Trump has become obsessed with having the Kennedy Center renamed in his honor, one of several projects with which he seeks to leave his mark on the capital.
He threatened to demolish it after a judge ruled this week that his name cannot be added to the building's facade.
Trump said his administration planned to carry out necessary multi-million dollar renovations and that he would then have to "subsidize it for years."
"I think the Trump administration should certainly get credit because, quite frankly, if we don't do that, it's going to close. It will end up being demolished," he said on Wednesday.
Shortly after beginning his second term, Trump appointed himself president of the center, which bears the name of the late president John F. Kennedy, a Democrat who championed civil rights before he was assassinated in 1963.
The center's board voted in December to name it the "Trump-Kennedy Center" and installed a sign with his name.
A judge ordered the removal of Trump's name from the exterior and revoked the board's decision to rename the institution.
Workers removed Trump's name from the building in June, but the scaffolding and tarps have remained ever since.
[Publicidad]