Photographs taken through the window of Air Force One on Wednesday night show President Donald Trump examining a sign about the destruction of a Washington arts institution. The document, which appeared to read "Kennedy Center DEMOLITION," was viewed hours before the administration told a judge that structural deterioration made the facility unsafe for the public.

The Trump administration argued in court that the venue's current condition creates "untenable risks" to safety, justifying an immediate shutdown. CNN has requested a White House comment to clarify the exact nature of the placard Trump studied while arriving at Joint Base Andrews and whether it depicts a finalized plan to remove the building.