President Donald Trump's construction plans seem to take chunks out of East Potomac Park — and online commentators are furious.
"Trump’s plan shrinks the course from 36 holes to 18 but impacts more than golfers," wrote The Washington Post's sports writer Rick Maese on X. "It eliminates Ohio Drive, historic mini golf and a grove of Japanese cherry trees — reshaping space used by thousands of cyclists, runners, anglers, bird-watchers and picnickers."
An attorney agreed with him and shared his outrage.
"This is a travesty and unlawful," wrote lawyer and former Commerce Department employee Brian McGrail. "Every Democratic presidential candidate should commit to reestablishing the public perimeter road if Trump somehow succeeds. That won't bring back the cherry blossoms, though."
American Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick argued that Trump's design for his East Potomac Golf Course will inevitably impact the public park.
"This design appears to completely eliminate the much-beloved loop road and public park at Hains Point, and cut down the cherry trees which line the road," Reichlin-Melnick said. "The park is a public space used by tens of thousands of Washingtonians and heavily visited by tourists."
Even politicians began chiming in.
"The Trump Administration was clearly lying about the reasons for their mass felling of trees in East Potomac last weekend," Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) wrote on X on Sunday.
He added, "They were lying to conceal from the American people that, at a time when our country is at war, and everyone is worried about the economy and high prices, the President simply doesn’t care—he’s focused on building an upscale golf course within walking distance of the White House. And on his fancy ballroom and his memorial arch to himself."
Beyer continued, "The design he’s pursuing would block off roads and paths used by large numbers of local residents for cycling and walking, no doubt to make the area another exclusive hangout for Trump’s rich and powerful friends. And once again he’s doing all of that at great expense, on your dime."
Trump's golf course renovations have long been a source of controversy. Last week, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes rejected Trump's arguments for having cut down hundreds of trees at East Potomac Golf Links.
"The Court concludes, on this limited record, that government officials raced to undertake the [tree-management plan] because President Trump demands haste on his redesign, and not because of some newfound zeal to implement a small part of a seven-year-old," Reyes wrote.
The president even has a controversial relationship with the game of golf itself. Sportswriter Rick Reilly has accused Trump of being an inveterate cheat.
Reilly has written that, “Among the many hilarious things about club championship #43 is that he lies so much about them he loses his place. We went from 26 to 36 overnight, then skipped 39, 40 and 41. Actual number: 0.”
