Trump Administration’s East Potomac Golf Course Renovation Raises Cherry Tree Concerns

President Donald Trump announced that the Department of the Interior will begin renovating East Potomac Golf Links on September 1, 2026. Architect Tom Fazio will replace the three-course, 36-hole layout with a single 18-hole championship course, adding roughly 50 acres.

MEAWW

Washington’s cherry trees were a 1912 gift from Japan and have become a signature spring attraction. The oldest grove on the East Potomac Peninsula is a widely visited landmark and a symbol of U.S.–Japan friendship.

MEAWW

Trump toured the site with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Tom Fazio on June 28, 2026; the Washington Post released design photos June 29. Judge Ana Reyes limited tree removal to ten in May. A federal hearing is set for July 2, and construction is slated for September 1.

Newsweek

The redesign consolidates three courses into one 18-hole layout, expanding the golf area by about 50 acres. A court injunction caps tree removal at ten without notice. Preservation groups warn the project could diminish the historic cherry-tree grove and reduce park space used daily by thousands for cycling, fishing and picnicking.

Newsweek

The White House says the project will keep the course public and restore its “quality and prestige.” President Trump said many trees are “badly damaged from years of neglect, putting people in great danger.” National Park Service spokesperson Alex Rosen noted a safety assessment is underway and that no major work will begin until it is complete. Judge Reyes’ order highlights the legal dispute over tree removal.

Newsweek

Save East Po and the National Parks Conservation Association criticize the lack of community input, environmental review, and historic-preservation assessment. Bill Hall warned that destroying the groves would be “a tragedy.” Ed Stierli called the plan “deeply concerning” for eliminating public access to a beloved park.

Newsweek

Washington Post renderings show the cherry grove intact, while other media suggest the design could place trees in the expansion path. No federal agency has released a definitive list of trees slated for removal, and no environmental impact study is public.

Newsweek

• “The historic cherry tree groves of Washington, DC, donated by the Japanese to the United States, are unquestionably, among the most iconic, admired and visited sites in our nation's capital and are irreplaceable,” — Bill Hall, Webster University adjunct professor

Newsweek

• “I’ve gotten some emails and requests from people telling me, ‘Don’t work on that project,’” — Tom Fazio, golf-course architect

Newsweek

• “Many of the trees are badly damaged from years of neglect, putting people in great danger from falling branches, and the trees falling themselves,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States

Newsweek

• “It’s deeply concerning to see that the president is carrying around plans that would essentially eliminate public access to [a] beloved park used by the public for fishing and recreation,” — Ed Stierli, senior director, National Parks Conservation Association

People Magazine

Litigation will continue, with the July 2 hearing expected to address compliance with the 1897 act that created East Potomac Park for public recreation. Additional environmental and historic-preservation reviews may be required before any removal beyond the ten-tree limit can proceed.

Newsweek