WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Lawyers working to keep the Kennedy Center open and Donald Trump’s name off its facade submitted new evidence on Thursday citing the U.S. president’s comments and a photo referring to the performing arts center’s demolition.

In a court filing, lawyers for the plaintiff, Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty, notified the court of comments the president made on Wednesday evening.

“I think that the Trump administration should certainly have recognition. Because frankly, if we don’t do that, it’s going to close. It’ll end up being ripped down,” Trump told reporters in North Carolina.

The lawyers also cited a photo circulating on social media that depicted the president on board Air Force One looking at a poster they said appeared to be titled “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED.”

The photo has not been independently verified by Reuters.

The court filing comes shortly before a deadline for the administration to explain whether the Kennedy Center’s plan to close the performing arts venue for up to two years for repairs violates a court order limiting its ability to shut down.

Washington-based U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper directed the administration to respond by Thursday to claims in a lawsuit that the board’s vote on Tuesday to proceed with the $257 million renovation project would violate that order.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Andrea Ricci )