Judge demands answers over tarp covering Kennedy Center name

A federal judge ordered the removal of Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center facade by June 12, following a ruling that the venue must only be named after John F. Kennedy.

Workers began assembling scaffolding and covered Trump's name with a white tarp on June 12, but the name was not fully removed until the early hours of June 13.

The judge has now demanded an explanation by July 31 for why the scaffolding and tarp remain in place, covering the area where the name once was.

Lawyers opposing Trump's efforts argue the persistent tarp is a “petty act of defiance” designed to “willfully sabotage” the facade and appeal to Trump's ego.

Despite a court order against closing, Kennedy Center officials are delaying renovations and not booking new shows, which lawyers contend is an effective shutdown of the institution.