President Donald Trump tends to discard elements that he believes no longer serve his purposes.
It might involve a statue, the whole East Wing of the White House, or historic trees whose relevance to his daily routine is minimal.
Yet a New York-based artist has emerged as the most recent casualty in the ongoing battle over the so-called living memorial to the 35th president.
In 2025, Trump took over the Kennedy Center’s board, filled it with loyalists, and watched as they voted to affix his name to the building.
Consequently, the nation’s premier performing venue in Washington, D.C., has become the subject of legal battles and political opposition.
OMG: Trump’s Kennedy Center Obsession Takes a Grim Turn as Lawyers Uncover Bombshells About Damage Allegedly Caused by Him — and It Might Explain the Demolition Threat
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that only Congress possesses the authority to alter the Kennedy Center’s name.
That ruling has not deterred Trump from attempting to leave his mark on the site nonetheless.
New reports indicate that the Kennedy Center removed Joel Shapiro’s sculpture “Blue” without any explanation or prior notice.
“We are deeply grateful to Joel Shapiro for the years ‘Blue’ has animated our campus and connected visitors to his vision,” The Kennedy Center told The New York Times.
The statement added, “We are honored to have been stewards of his vibrant work and a part of his enduring legacy.”
Crews removed Blue on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
The Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation, established in memory of the late Shapiro, who died in June 2025, would determine the next location for the towering metal stick figure.
The Kennedy Center installed the sculpture in 2019 as part of its Reach expansion project, a $250 million undertaking.
Trump had already signaled his dislike for the project, making its removal all the more notable.
A Washington-based activist coalition, Hands Off Art, condemned the president for moving Blue from the center’s campus.
“Hands Off the Arts condemns Trump’s ongoing desecration of the nation’s artistic treasures by ordering the removal of Blue from the Kennedy Center’s REACH campus,” HOA said.
It added that “Blue was created as a site-specific piece by the late Joel Shapiro to serve as a joyful and inviting feature for the expansion’s public grounds.”
Hands Off the Arts’ condemnation of the removal prompted a flurry of comments on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Danielle Brooks
I am a staff writer at New York Beacon, where I focus on culture, entrepreneurship, and the emerging voices redefining Black America. My work highlights innovators, artists, and founders whose stories often unfold beyond mainstream headlines but shape communities in meaningful ways. Through precise reporting and thoughtful storytelling, I aim to document progress, challenge narratives, and contribute to a stronger Black press tradition.