US President Donald Trump reviews plans during his visit to East Potomac Links golf course at Haines Point in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 28, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
Trump says East Potomac Golf Links renovation starts Sept. 1
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- The plan followed a site visit with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and architect Tom Fazio.
- A May legal dispute was resolved, clearing the project.
- The overhaul is part of a broader federal redevelopment initiative.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the federal government will launch a massive, top-tier renovation of Washington’s century-old East Potomac Golf Links this fall, vowing to transform the public grounds into a world-class sporting venue.
The redevelopment of the prime waterfront property is scheduled to begin on September 1.
Trump finalized the timeline after touring the public course on Sunday morning alongside Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio.
In a statement published on his Truth Social platform, Trump heavily criticized the current state of the facility while praising its geographic potential.
"It was determined that, on this fantastic site, with water and unparalleled views of D.C.'s Monuments, we will build one of the Greatest Golf Courses anywhere in the World," Trump wrote. "The Course is virtually unplayable! Work on the new Course, which will go quickly, will begin on September 1st."
Settling legal turf war
The green light for construction follows months of friction.
A local non-profit organization alongside two Washington residents had previously filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration in a bid to block the commercialized transformation of the public park space.
However, the legal standoff was quietly resolved in May. Under the terms of the settlement, the non-profit operator -the National Links Trust- agreed to allow federal officials to take over and completely re-engineer the East Potomac site.
In exchange, the organization secured a lucrative, newly structured long-term lease to manage, protect, and redevelop Washington's other two prominent public courses: the historically significant Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf.
Reshaping capital's cultural footprint
The East Potomac transformation is not an isolated sports project. White House officials view the golf course modernization as a key component of a much broader executive mandate directed by President Trump to systematically reshape and remodel United States cultural, historic, and recreational infrastructure.
Located on a peninsula jutting into the Potomac River, the East Potomac course has offered everyday golfers views of the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial since it opened in the early 20th century. By bringing in Tom Fazio -the designer behind some of the most exclusive courses globally- the administration aims to elevate the municipal park into a crown jewel of the National Park Service portfolio, promising a rapid construction timeline to minimize disruption to local residents.
