President Donald Trump announced Sunday that work will commence on Sept. 1 at the public East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C., disregarding a federal judge's warning of potential "serious consequences" if major renovations begin without prior court approval and notification.
Trump made the declaration during a tour of projects he has initiated or plans to oversee. The East Potomac Golf Course renovation is part of a public-private partnership. Trump stated the redesigned course, to be managed by golf course architect Tom Fazio, will be "one of the Greatest Golf Courses anywhere in the World" and accessible to the public, with the capacity to host major tournaments.
This move follows a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit National Links Trust, which disputes the administration's termination of its lease agreement in December due to alleged maintenance shortcomings. An agreement reached in May permits the nonprofit to continue operating the course while Trump's renovation plans proceed.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes had previously cautioned the administration against proceeding with renovations before obtaining necessary approvals and informing the court. "I'm going to say this one more time, and I do not want a situation where something has happened and then I'm being told by the government or by a foundation or by a bulldozing company that it's too late to do anything about it," Judge Reyes stated. "If anything like that happens ... there are going to be serious consequences."
Lawyers for the D.C. Preservation League had expressed concern that the East Potomac property could be "razed" before legal challenges could be resolved, citing the rapid demolition of the White House's East Wing.
Trump was accompanied on Sunday by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and golf course architect Tom Fazio, along with his son Gavin Fazio. Trump described his visit as a study of the "dilapidated, worn out, and very dangerous and outdated Golf Course known as East Potomac Golf Links."
During his tour, Trump also provided an update on the $16 million overhaul of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. He claimed the pool is now in "full use" and will be treated again after July 4 to address damage he attributed to "Criminal, Radical Left Vandals" and algae blooms, though he offered no evidence for these claims. He stated the pool is functioning well and that the algae has been removed, with grass replacement imminent.
Trump's motorcade also passed by Memorial Circle, the planned site for his proposed 250-foot-high triumphal arch. The administration had previously added Trump's name to the Kennedy Center, an action later ordered removed by a judge.