Trump posts plans to close this ‘community jewel’ in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday plans to close the East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C., for 15 months, despite a court challenge to the renovation. The golf course, located near the White House, will reopen in early 2023 with Trump's vision of a "best and most spectacular" golf course, capable of hosting major tournaments like the U.S. Open and the Presidents Cup.

However, a judge halted the redevelopment on a temporary basis until at least Oct. 26, criticizing the government for initiating extensive tree removal over a holiday weekend without proper notice to the court or plaintiffs. Trump's post about the course redesign, including an artist's rendering, did not address the legal challenges.

Democracy Forward, representing plaintiffs in the lawsuit, emphasized that the course is a national park and recreation facility meant for public enjoyment and vowed to defend it against alleged unlawful intrusions. The judge in the case noted Trump's online message and ordered the government to confirm whether its position had changed, as the government had previously stated that Trump's "preliminary thought" on the renovation was only that.

The National Park Service's review is still ongoing, and the government maintains that it has not been representing Trump's actual position or mental impressions but has relied on his public statements. Trump, a golf enthusiast, had previously announced plans to revamp various locations around Washington, D.C., including the White House and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The 106-year-old park and course has been the target of many legal battles as Trump sought to renovate it, with opponents arguing that the high-end redesign would alter the character of the space and make it less affordable for the public. Trump's post defended the renovation by criticizing the current condition of the course, stating that it is dilapidated, unsafe, and contaminated with hazardous materials due to debris from the White House East Wing's demolition for Trump's ballroom project.