Trump announces Sept. 1 renovation of East Potomac Golf Links after rainy course tour with architect Tom Fazio

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his administration would begin a comprehensive renovation of East Potomac Golf Links on Sept. 1, framing the overhaul of the Washington, D.C., public course as part of a wider push to remake the nation’s capital.

The announcement

Trump toured the waterfront course on a rainy Sunday morning alongside Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, renowned golf architect Tom Fazio, and White House aides. The visit lasted more than 90 minutes, after which Trump outlined the plans in a Truth Social post. He described East Potomac as “dilapidated, worn out, and very dangerous and outdated,” and said the site’s location offered “unparalleled views of D.C.’s Monuments.”

“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 which, importantly, will also be made available to the Public.”

Trump added that the finished course would be able to host the U.S. Open, the Ryder Cup, the PGA Championship, and other top PGA Tour events.

Legal and regulatory hurdles

The project’s Sept. 1 timeline arrives amid unresolved legal and administrative questions. A federal lawsuit is pending, and in May, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes warned officials not to proceed with major changes without notifying the court. That same month, the administration struck a deal with the National Links Trust to keep East Potomac and two other D.C. courses open after terminating the nonprofit’s 50-year lease with the National Park Service. It is unclear whether the proposed construction date aligns with the environmental and regulatory review process that officials have previously said would precede any major work.

Broader D.C. beautification drive

East Potomac is the latest entry in a string of high-profile projects Trump has launched in Washington, including a planned ballroom, a repainted reflecting pool, and a proposed arch. On the same Sunday tour, Trump celebrated the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, claiming it was “now in full use” despite ongoing work. The pool’s renovation has seen costs climb from an initial $2 million estimate to $16 million, as workers battle algae blooms that Trump blamed on criminal mischief.

Initial estimate2

Current estimate16

Initial estimate

2 $ million

Current estimate

16 $ million

Data from the article text

“It never worked properly until last week and, right after July 4th, when we will drain the water to treat the damage caused by these ‘animals,’ it will again be in perfect shape.”

Trump said the East Potomac course could “bring tremendous success and prestige back” to the city and touted 73 statues, monuments, and fountains the administration says it has restored.

What comes next

While Trump predicted the golf course work would “go quickly,” the administration has not disclosed cost estimates or confirmed whether regulatory reviews will be completed before construction begins. Representatives for the Interior Department and the National Links Trust did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday, and Fazio also did not immediately reply. The Sept. 1 start date is the clearest timeline yet, but the legal and preservation challenges surrounding the federal property could still shape the schedule.