Controversy Surrounding Removal of Willow Trees at Kennedy Center

Photos capturing the aftermath of the weeping willow trees’ removal outside Washington’s Kennedy Center have gained attention on social media. The ongoing discussion raises questions about the timing and reasons behind their removal.

Reasons for Removal

The willows were taken down in October 2025 due to safety concerns, according to a Kennedy Center spokesperson speaking to Newsweek. Executive Director Matthew Floca testified in federal court earlier this year, stating that most of the weeping willows from the center’s original design had been removed because they were decaying.

Some social media posts incorrectly attributed the removal to President Donald Trump or his administration. During his testimony, Floca clarified that he had no specific discussions with Trump about the willows or their replacement.

[President Trump and I] haven’t specifically talked about the weeping willows or the replacement. Floca said. I think that a weeping cherry tree would be perfect.

Newsweek contacted the White House for comments and was directed to the Kennedy Center for further information.

Court Opinions and Legal Disputes

In a federal court opinion dated May 29, 2026, Judge Christopher R. Cooper highlighted Floca’s testimony from an April 29 hearing. This was part of a lawsuit filed by preservation and architecture groups contesting the Kennedy Center’s renovation plans.

Cooper reported that most of the willow trees, part of the original landscaping, had been removed due to decay. Floca believed weeping cherry trees would be a suitable replacement.

The court was concerned about potential changes affecting the Kennedy Center’s historical elements. Cooper referenced the importance of the willow trees and the center’s columns as critical to its National Register of Historic Places eligibility.

Background of Willow Trees at Kennedy Center

The willow trees were part of the Kennedy Center’s original landscape design. The center, inaugurated in 1971 as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, featured various species like red oaks, flowering crab apples, red maples, and willows. These trees were planted in raised boxes on the southern and western terraces overlooking the Potomac River.

The federal opinion acknowledged willow trees as part of the Kennedy Center’s initial design, emphasizing their historical significance. However, it did not confirm whether the recently removed trees were the original specimens planted in the early 1970s.

Clarifying Trump’s Involvement

Donald Trump became chairman of the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees in February 2025. While he has had a significant role in broader renovations at the center, Floca stated that he and Trump had not specifically discussed the willows or potential replacements.

Floca expressed his preference for weeping cherry trees as a replacement. Plans for the Kennedy Center renovation released by Trump in March featured cherry trees along the Potomac-facing areas, previously occupied by the willows.

The broader renovation project at the Kennedy Center faces ongoing legal challenges. In August, Justice Department attorneys claimed the center requires substantial repairs, warning of possible demolition if these are not addressed.