Judge weighs extending halt on tree clearing at Trump's D.C. golf course

newsOct 20, 2026202,081

U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes said she likely will extend her order blocking the administration from cutting more trees at the East Potomac golf course after finding the government acted in “bad faith” when it felled over 400 trees during the Columbus Day weekend. Reyes told Justice Department lawyers at a seven-hour hearing that she did not accept the administration’s claim the tree removal was unrelated to President Donald Trump’s renovation plans, saying "there is no universe in which all of this just coincidentally happened at the same time." The Justice Department argued no concrete renovation plan existed, but Trump on social media announced Interior Department involvement, named golf architect Tom Fazio, and said work would begin Nov. 15. Acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron and Interior chief of staff Gregory Wischer testified they had no information about a planned closure or start date prior to Trump’s posts. Plaintiffs, a preservation group and two D.C. residents, contend the 100-year-old park’s three-course layout would be transformed into a single championship-style course. Reyes cited Trump’s public statements as potential evidence supporting her bad-faith finding. If Reyes extends the injunction, the administration would be barred from additional tree clearing while the court resolves the plaintiffs’ challenge to the proposed redesign.

Aaron Rupar

@atrupar.com

Trump: "Trash Island,' DC, the nickname for the dilapidated Golf Course subject of frivolous litigation in the Court System, before a judge that seems not to want Greatness for our Capital (but who knows?), has been badly managed for so many decades it is a completely nonviable & unsafe Project... "

Trump: "Trash Island,' Washington, D.C., the nickname for the broken and dilapidated Golf Course that is the subject of frivolous litigation in the United States Court System, before a judge that seems not to want Greatness for our Capital or our Nation (but who knows?), has been badly managed for so many decades that it is a completely nonviable and unsafe Project. Our Plan, developed to the Highest Levels and Standards of Golf, will turn Trash Island into an Island of Beauty and Success! It will be one of the Most Wonderful and Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World. The United States Department of the Interior, and its Experts, are so proud of what has been designed that any delay would be sad, both for them and the Public, which is anxiously waiting for something that is really special! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

6489h ago

Snarky Panda77

it's a fucking golf course, i want medicare for all

David Burbach 🇺🇸76

Seems unhelpful when a key government argument in the court case is that the interior Dept / NPS do not have a plan yet

Mark Sumner 🌒74

I’m still pondering the ways in which a golf course might be “unsafe.” Does it have quick sand traps? Piranhas in the water hazards? Packs of feral caddies?

The Comely Lads46

This is the equivalent of a toddler fussing before finally passing out.

MJM45

So that his new trick, to call something “unsafe” (East Wing, Kennedy Center, etc) so it’s an “emergency” and then he thinks he gets to do whatever he wants.🤬

Not Leon Tusk34

Dozens of posts about a golf course renovation, but complete radio silence on his feed regarding the Bend, Oregon tragedy

Quoting this

Musicology Duck121

WHO PUT THE LITERAL TRASH ISLAND THERE DONALD bsky.app/profile/atru...

The Questionable Authority46

Request to identify the "experts" incoming in 5...4...3...

Charles Boehm ⚽️23

Living in DC during this blizzard of lies is surreal East Potomac is glorious, including for non-golfers. Being on NPS land (up til now) kept it wonderfully low-key and accessible. There actually IS a DC island made largely of old trash and dredge waste, Kingman, in the Anacostia. It's great, too!

Fast Casual TBogg+13

Welp, since we’re talking about “Trash Island,” below is off to the side of the first tee at Donald Trump’s Bedminster and you are looking at the grave of Ivana Trump (mom to Don Jr, Ivanka and Eric) who was buried there and then forgotten like an unclaimed body found in a dumpster.

CK DexterHaven 🍂🍁🍂9

🤨 I’m feeling like this is not something you should say when a judge is looking at things

Patrick De Klotz9

His obsession with his renovation projects while the world burns really does give off mad roman emperor vibes

Mephtrix5

One of the fun things I learned about Montreal is if a developer lets a historic building fall down because it was "dilapidated" and "a wreck anyway" as a pretense to build a new building, the city steps in and says "fuck you, no, rebuild the house exactly like it was before."

Clean Observer3

Again: the first Trump admin signed off on a widely praised, non-partisan plan to restore the facility. Trump ripped that up in favor of pursuing a reverse Robin Hood fiasco to build a championship course that will cost more, while allowing less access to golfers and non-golfers alike.

Anu3

The judge told his lawyers she isn’t the Lorax, so he took to truth social to scream at the trees instead.

Tina Says #VoteOutTheCorruption2

HE dumped the East Wing demo on the golf course. apnews.com/article/trum...

Barb McQuade

@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Even aside from the legal issues, do we really need another “exclusive” golf course at the expense of a muni that’s affordable for kids and seniors? www.nytimes.com/2026/10/18/u...

56214h ago

PJRO7

Do we really need a enormous ballroom? An arch? A blue reflecting pool? A statue garden of heroes? A paved-over rose garden? Trump's name on the Kennedy Center? A fenced-in Lafayette Park? The list goes on and on.

Angela Omulepu3

It’s not for us… it’s for his friends in the Epstein class. Seems clearer every day who he fights for… and it’s not the people.

rookster10.bsky.social2

Shame on fazio. His name will live in infamy. Oh yeah, F him

kimritchy.bsky.social2

🟡 Why doesn't he turn maralago into a data center? 🟡

ANGEL - BadAss Resister1

It's not his f'n golf course. They weren't his trees. What of these days Ralph!!!!!!!!!

Pruesky1

Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution addresses the removal of the President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States from office upon impeachment and conviction for Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Megan Carter

@megancarternews.bsky.social

Judge vs. DOJ, and the fight's over a golf course. A federal judge is pressing the Justice Department on a D.C. course deal — the kind of case that rarely sees daylight. Whose tee time is really being protected here?

4005h ago

Chris Geidner

@chrisgeidner.bsky.social

NEW: A day of arguments over Trump’s golf course plans show how far DOJ will go to back Trump. Judge Ana Reyes held arguments over the East Potomac Golf Course on Monday — but the takeaway was much bigger. Tonight, at Law Dork:

2249h ago

Madame DeFarge2

Hurray. Our tax dollars at work.

FQuin🏳️‍🌈1

Thank you, great write up as always! If you’re not subscribed to Law Dork, I strongly recommend it. I’m a retired attorney and think Chris does a great job explaining complex issues and arguments.

blueheartvalley.bsky.social1

Trump's sins are much larger than this, but it just encapsulates how powerless the courts are in fighting his illegality. He's out of control and I have no idea who can stop him.

Quoting this

Chris Geidner177

Took a little time on this …

Lee West6

DOJ normalizing razing public monuments and spaces — for Dear Leader’s vanity projects — with OUR tax dollars = the ultimate grift. Calling female judges “histrionic” and publicly bashing them while court proceedings are happening — as a sitting President — is the ultimate in predatory hubris.

Kaydee4

This from the great @chrisgeidner.bsky.social / www.lawdork.com/about bsky.app/profile/chri...

Tony Yates2

Hole in one joke send tweet

PBS News

@pbsnews.org

On Monday, a federal judge clashed with Justice Department lawyers in the latest legal standoff over the fate of a Washington, D.C., golf course.

7414h ago

Dean Obeidallah

@deanobeidallah.bsky.social

UNREAL: Trump laser focused on his top priority this AM: Building an exclusive, world class GOLF course in Wash DC. People can't afford food and gas so Trump's answer is "Let them eat golf course." Trump is America's Marie Antoinette!! www.mediaite.com/media/news/t...

301h ago

K.B. Spangler

@kbspangler.com

But, like Social Security, politicians have been working to get their hands on it for forever. Mostly because of the location, which is within spitting distance of downtown D.C. You can literally see some of the monuments from its Blue Course.

A bunch of golfers playing golf with the Washington Monument in the background.

5313h ago

Forbes

@forbes.com

The president shared photos he said were for the judge to “study” after a tense hearing where questions were raised about his plan to renovate a popular D.C. golf course.

214h ago

Gerard Harbison1

If it’s trash island, isn’t that on him and his administration?

Whatifisaidit

@whatifisaidit.bsky.social

Trump blows up DOJ’s case hours before his lawyers face a ‘very angry’ judge: MS NOW rawstory.com/trump-undermines-doj/

1217h ago

Blue Dot in Red State

@bluedotin.bsky.social

(WSJ) Frankly, I expect the judge to find Trump et al. in contempt... a rare occurrence. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

1310h ago

papaesoco.bsky.social

@papaesoco.bsky.social

Trump’s Big Mouth Already Comes Back to Bite Him in Golf Course Case newrepublic.com/post/216778/... via @newrepublic.com

48h ago

junita01.bsky.social

@junita01.bsky.social

D.C. Golf Course issue: I personally don’t care about Golf Courses, to me it’s a boring sport, but cutting down public trees that provide beauty & oxygen for the environment is a selfish endeavor by Trump. America don’t need another Golf Course especially when it will sacrifice beautiful trees.

616h ago

Romeo Kokriatski

@vagrantjourno.bsky.social

It's a bit comedic, but obviously disheartening, to read about the continuing weakness of the US judicial system when it comes to Donald Trump www.politico.com/news/2026/10...

86h ago

Jay Lionel

@jaylionel.bsky.social

Day 645 The midterms are around the corner. And Trump is arguing with a judge over a golf course. Trump keeps posting abuse of the judge and the lawyers have to defending his nonsense. Laser focused on helping ordinary Americans, said NO ONE EVER. You are all caught up.

56h ago

@jbonbluesky.bsky.social

#Golf #WashingtonDC #EastPotomacPark #TomFazio This is bigger than cutting trees, Trump’s obsession with golf, his vanity projects, or the loss of an affordable local DC course. This is about billionaires *stealing* public land. This is about Trump acting as if he’s above the law - again & again.

41h ago

3 sources

washingtonpost.comAmid attacks by Trump, judge weighs golf course plan in tense hearing nbcnews.comJudge leans toward extending halt on tree clearing at golf course where Trump says redesign should start ‘immediately’cnn.comTensions flare at court hearing on Trump’s golf course renovation after president says construction will begin ‘immediately’ | CNN Politics

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Judge weighs extending halt on tree clearing at Trump's D.C. golf course

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