DOJ insists new Trump inscriptions are 'not renaming' Kennedy Center

Opponents of restoring former US President Donald Trump's name to the Kennedy Center sought a federal judge's intervention on Thursday, arguing that the move represented "open defiance" of his prior rulings. Judge Christopher Cooper had previously ordered Trump's name removed from the performing arts center's facade in May, but the president had appointed a Kennedy Center board that voted this month to reinstate it.

The board's proposal calls for "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump" to be displayed beneath the president's name, with the surrounding area renamed the "President Donald J. Trump Plaza." Government lawyers argued that the phrasing would not constitute a renaming but rather acknowledge Trump's renovation efforts.

Trump's name was initially added in December as part of his effort to reshape the city in his image, and it was removed in June at Cooper's behest. The site where it was taken down is still covered by scaffolding. Cooper has also blocked Trump's request to close the Kennedy Center for two years of renovations, which were set to begin in July.

Trump's efforts to revamp the cultural venue have led to a sharp decline in attendance and the refusal of many artists to perform there. Critics of Trump's actions claim the closure plan is a concession to the administration. During the hearing, opposition lawyer Nathaniel Zelinsky accused the administration of "open defiance of the court and massive bad faith," expressing concern that the center might be demolished if courts block Trump's plans for a renovation overhaul.

The judge did not issue a ruling at the end of Thursday's hearing, and it remains unclear when one might be forthcoming. Since his second inauguration, Trump has aimed to place his name and face on various aspects of the nation's capital, from buildings to passports and even US currency.