A federal judge signaled on Monday that she intends to keep a freeze on tree removal at the East Potomac Golf Links, amid a chaotic legal battle over President Donald Trump’s desire to transform the century-old public site into a world class championship course. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes expressed deep skepticism regarding the administration’s claims that recent deforestation was unrelated to the proposed renovations, noting that over 400 trees were chopped down during a holiday weekend in what she described as an act of bad faith.

The proceedings highlighted a stark disconnect between the president and his own administration. While Trump took to social media to announce that famed architect Tom Fazio had developed a plan and insisted work should begin immediately, high ranking officials from the Interior Department and the National Park Service testified under oath that they were unaware of any concrete renovation plan or scheduled closures. Judge Reyes remarked that there is no universe in which these events coincided by accident, suggesting the government had been dishonest about its intentions.

Tensions escalated further as the courtroom drama spilled onto social media, where President Trump labeled Judge Reyes a crazed lunatic following her previous rulings against the project. During the hearing, Reyes revealed that her family had been distressed by reports of death threats directed at her, reflecting a pattern seen when the president attacks judicial figures online. She lamented that receiving such threats over a dispute about a golf course was far from what the nation’s founders envisioned for the judiciary.

Lawyers for the Justice Department attempted to have Judge Reyes recuse herself from the case, alleging bias and unprofessional behavior during earlier hearings. However, Reyes rejected those claims, explaining that her frustration stemmed from the government’s decision to clear hundreds of healthy trees with almost no warning provided to the court. Meanwhile, local preservationists continue to argue that replacing three diverse courses with one elite championship layout would destroy the historic character of one of Washington’s most accessible green spaces.