Trump clears historic cherry trees to make way for new Potomac golf course

In Washington D.C., Donald Trump directed the felling of over 60 cherry and sycamore trees in East Potomac Park, including a well-known cherry near the 14th green of the Blue Course, to clear a site for a new golf facility on a constructed island in the Potomac River. The trees, many of which were part of the original 1912 Japanese donation, were removed under the guise of routine park maintenance, targeting hazard, invasive, or dying specimens, according to a park spokesperson.

A federal judge had previously cautioned the administration against presenting the removal as a fait accompli, but the work continued ahead of a planned September 1 start date. The course, envisioned as a world-class venue capable of hosting PGA events, will be designed by Tom Fazio after Trump terminated the National Links Trust’s 50-year lease and shifted oversight to the National Park Service. Critics argue the development threatens public access, replaces historic trees with a private facility, and may bypass standard environmental reviews.