Trump unveils 15-month plan to renovate historic DC golf course

WASHINGTON — President Trump rolled out new renovation plans for the iconic East Potomac Golf Course and announced that it will be shut down for the next 15 months for the revamp.Renovations that would transform it into a “one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World” would begin Nov.15, Trump claimed Sunday, as he glossed over the legal hurdles he has faced in the project.“The current Course is old, broken, dilapidated, and of no further use or effect,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“It is in very poor condition, with falling, dangerous, and disease infested trees and, importantly, a collapsing and hazardous seawall.”“When the East Potomac Course was originally built, it was famous for no trees, with views of Washington, D.C., for all to see, but now, it is completely overgrown, dysfunctional, and unsafe,” he added.The Trump administration has faced legal snarls in its effort to renovate the golf course, with a judge temporarily stymying it from removing trees after more than 400 were cut down.In May, District Judge Ana Reyes ordered the Trump administration to give notice of plans to cut down more than 10 trees.

On the Friday before Columbus Day weekend, just before the close of business, officials alerted the court of plans to cut “up to 529 trees.” By Saturday, some 430 trees were chopped down, resulting in Reyes scheduling an emergency hearing Monday.The teed-off judge responded to Trump’s Sunday post and ordered the government to notify her by 8 p.m.whether a Friday court filing that stated the rebuilding plan was in the “preliminary” stages had changed.The administration, which is being sued by the DC Preservation League and several other plaintiffs, is pushing for Reyes to be replaced.

Trump, who has publicly boasted about winning multiple tournaments at his own golf clubs, tapped Tom Fazio with the new designs.Prior plans for the renovations at the course, which is about 2.3 miles away from the Whi...