▲ Development plan for the public golf course near Washington, D.C., unveiled by Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans on October 18 (local time) to push forward with redevelopment construction on a public golf course in Washington, D.C., which is currently the subject of a court lawsuit regarding its redevelopment.
President Trump wrote on social media platform Truth Social that day, “I am pleased to announce that the Department of the Interior, led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, has partnered with renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio to develop plans for a world-class championship golf course on the current site of the East Potomac Golf Links.”
He stated that operations at the golf course will cease on November 15, restoration work based on Fazio’s design will begin, and the new golf course will reopen in about 15 months.
President Trump argued that once the redevelopment construction is completed, it will be able to host world-class golf tournaments and generate jobs and economic benefits.
Opened in 1921 along the banks of the Potomac River in southwest Washington, D.C., the East Potomac Golf Course has long been beloved for its affordable rates, but Trump—a golf enthusiast and former real estate developer—has pursued its redevelopment since entering his second term.
After the Trump administration unilaterally terminated a 50-year lease agreement signed in 2020 with National Links Trust, the non-profit organization operating the golf course, historical preservation groups and others filed a lawsuit in February of this year.
The plaintiffs’ demand was to halt construction until evaluations are completed—as the Interior Department failed to conduct the mandatory environmental and health evaluations prior to the start of construction—and to block the termination of the existing lease agreement.
President Trump’s post that day, released amid court hearings for this lawsuit, appears to formalize his stance to force the construction through.
Previously, the Interior Department notified the court of its plan to log the golf course on October 9, and just one day later on October 10, carried out work cutting down about 500 trees.
In response, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes for the District of Columbia strongly rebuked the Trump administration on October 12, stating that the prior notice came too late, and ordered a halt to logging and construction until October 26 of this month.
In his post that day, President Trump emphasized the necessity of the redevelopment construction, describing the current state of the golf course as “outdated, damaged, in ruins, no longer usable, and ineffective.”
He pointed out that “the condition is poor, featuring dangerous, disease-ridden trees on the verge of falling and, above all, a hazardous seawall on the brink of collapse,” adding, “When first created, it was famous for views of Washington, D.C. visible to everyone because there were no trees, but now the trees are overgrown, failing to serve their purpose, and unsafe.”
(Photo: Captured from Trump’s Truth Social, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.