Fact Check: Did Trump order the destruction of Kennedy Center’s iconic weeping willows?

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the ongoing controversy over President Donald Trump’s changes to the Kennedy Center, a new claim about the landmark’s iconic willow trees has sparked debate online.

Social media posts allege that Trump is responsible for cutting down the weeping willow trees outside the center, which have long been associated with the site’s history. The claim has drawn strong reactions from users online. Let’s fact-check the claim.

Claim: Trump cut down willow trees outside the Kennedy Center

It is unclear where the rumor originated, but several social media posts claimed that “The iconic weeping willow trees outside the Kennedy Center have been cut down by Trump.” 

The posts shared photos of the weeping willows at the Kennedy Center and claimed that President Trump ordered their removal as part of broader changes in Washington, DC.

Another post claimed, “Trump’s hatred of anyone else’s shadow has now manifested itself in the destruction of the Kennedy Center’s iconic weeping willows.”

It added, “The trees are fixtures of Boston’s Common and were, at the time of their planting, representative of a country’s sorrow. It’s death by 1000’s cuts.” The post had received more than 402K views at the time of writing, prompting several users to comment.

One user expressed outrage, writing, “And didn't court say no, you can't mess with this while litigation is ongoing? Good grief, I can't stand this lawless admin!” 

Another user said, “This is senseless destruction for no reason. Those weeping willows were not Trump’s to destroy. There must be repercussions for this retaliatory act.”

Fact Check: The claim is misleading

The claim is false and misleading. The viral posts do not accurately explain when or why the trees were removed.

The weeping willow trees were part of the Kennedy Center’s original landscape design, created by Dan Kiley around 1965. The trees were later associated with the center’s opening in 1971 and were removed in October 2025.

A Kennedy Center spokesperson told Newsweek that the trees were removed because they posed a safety hazard. Executive Director Matthew Floca also testified in federal court that most of the trees had been “felled due to decay.”

The willows were planted in shallow beds over concrete decks, which gave them shorter lifespans and made them more vulnerable to decay and instability. 

Reports said one tree had fallen during a storm, while others were already showing signs of decline.

Photos of the tree stumps shared online in early September 2026 show the aftermath of the removal, which took place in 2025, not a new removal. The Washington Post also reported that the Kennedy Center had removed several willow trees the previous year, while later renovation plans showed new trees along the same terrace.

Trump became chairman of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees in February 2025, and his administration has since overseen broader changes and renovation plans at the center. However, Floca testified that he and Trump “haven’t specifically talked about the weeping willows or the replacement.” Floca suggested weeping cherry trees as a possible replacement, and later renovation renderings showed new trees in the area.

Therefore, the evidence does not support the claim that Trump personally ordered the destruction of the willows as an act of retaliation or because of “hatred.”