President Trump announced plans to begin renovating East Potomac Golf Links on September 1, describing the public course as deteriorated and dangerous while promising to transform it into a world-class venue capable of hosting major tournaments.
Trump toured the course Sunday alongside Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and golf architect Tom Fazio. In a Truth Social post, he called the facility "dilapidated, worn out, and very dangerous and outdated," but emphasized its potential given the site's water features and views of D.C. monuments.
The president said the rebuilt course would eventually host prestigious events including the U.S. Open, Ryder Cup, and PGA Championship. He framed the project as part of a broader effort to restore prestige to the nation's capital, noting his administration has already restored 73 statues, monuments, and fountains across the city.
The renovation follows months of friction over control of D.C.'s three public golf courses. Trump officials reached a deal with the National Links Trust in May to keep East Potomac and two other courses operating after the administration terminated the nonprofit's 50-year lease with the National Park Service.
That agreement came just days after a federal judge ruled that the administration could not overhaul the East Potomac course without providing advance notice, a decision brought by the D.C. Preservation League in litigation.
The golf course project fits into Trump's wider push to reshape Washington's landscape through visible federal improvements. Beyond the course, his administration has launched a ballroom renovation, repainted the Reflecting Pool, and proposed a monumental arch in the city.
While Trump said the work would "go quickly," legal and preservation questions surrounding the federal property could complicate the project's timeline and scope.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's bet that a gleaming golf course and monument restorations will rebrand D.C. is audacious, but the legal obstacles linger."
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