Kennedy Center Removes "Blue" Sculpture Amid Trump Administration Targeting
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The Story
The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts is removing a major outdoor sculpture, "Blue," from its grounds on Wednesday. Internal documents obtained by The New York Times indicate the work, installed in 2019, was targeted for elimination following President Trump's takeover of the center. Workers began disassembling the 24-foot aluminum sculpture, created by artist Joel Shapiro, with photographs showing its legs on the grass. The removal occurs amidst a series of changes at the Washington performing arts center during President Trump's second term. In August, the Kennedy Center Board voted to add "Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump" under the building's name. The board also voted to name the plaza in front of the center after Trump and to close the venue for two years for renovations. Jim Acosta livestreamed the removal of Trump's name from the facade, stating it was very much like watching the Berlin Wall coming down. He demanded that those involved be jailed. Neal Augenstein, a reporter for WTOP, suggested political motivations behind the sculpture's removal. Critics have described the removal of Joel Shapiro's sculpture as petty. Joel Shapiro died in 2024, nine months after his solo show "Out of the Blue" opened. Separately, claims circulated online in late August and early September 2026 that President Trump ordered the removal of weeping willow trees outside the Kennedy Center. Matthew Floca, the Kennedy Center's vice president of facilities, stated in April 2026 sworn testimony that the center felled its weeping willows because they were falling down due to a maintenance need. Floca confirmed Trump was not involved in the decision regarding the trees and had not spoken to Trump, the chair of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, about them. Snopes rated the claim about Trump ordering the willow tree removal as false.
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What they agree on
- The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts is removing the outdoor sculpture "Blue" from its grounds.
- The sculpture "Blue" was installed in 2019 and is a 24-foot aluminum figure created by artist Joel Shapiro.
- Internal documents indicate the Trump administration targeted the sculpture for elimination after President Trump's takeover of the center.
- The Kennedy Center Board voted in August to add "Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump" to the building's name and to name the plaza after Trump.
- Claims that President Trump ordered the removal of weeping willow trees outside the Kennedy Center were rated false by Snopes, with Matthew Floca stating the trees were removed due to maintenance needs.
Where they split
- The Independent and The Daily Beast frame the sculpture's removal as part of a "takeover battle" or "takeover tantrum" by President Trump, while other outlets like United Press International and The Washington Post report the removal more neutrally.
- The Forward emphasizes the artistic and cultural significance of Joel Shapiro's "Blue" sculpture, detailing the artist's background and the emotional impact of his work.
- Twitchy and Raw Story highlight the political reactions to the changes at the Kennedy Center, including Jim Acosta's comments and Neal Augenstein's observations about political motivations.