Trump's next Washington project: a championship golf course on the Potomac peninsula

The announcement

President Donald Trump revealed on Truth Social that work will begin on 1 September to build what he described as “one of the best golf courses” in the world on a peninsula in the middle of Washington. The new public course would replace the aging East Potomac Golf Links, a layout Trump described as dilapidated and practically unusable.

“The course is practically unplayable.”

He wants the redesigned facility to be capable of hosting elite professional events, specifically mentioning the U.S. Open, Ryder Cup and PGA Championship. The project will be supervised by the Department of the Interior, though no cost estimate or funding source was disclosed.

The site in question

The existing East Potomac Golf Links has operated since the 1920s and is known for its views of the Washington Monument and the White House, which sits just a few kilometres away. The low-lying course is prone to flooding, and maintenance budgets have been too thin to prevent wear, according to the New York Times. In 2020 the nonprofit National Links Trust took over operations and began developing its own restoration plans.

Trump visited the location on Sunday to inspect plans firsthand. His post noted that many trees are damaged and pose a hazard, and that irrigation is severely deficient.

Local backlash

Residents and regular players fear the overhaul will squeeze out casual golfers. One nine-hole loop is expected to disappear, cutting the total number of holes by about 25 percent. The remaining 18-hole course would be markedly harder, which critics say could deter weekend players who have relied on the facility for decades.

“The atmosphere here is great. Here everyone has fun. For me, this is my home course.”

Golf architect Richard Mandell pushed back on the need for ultra-long tees designed for elite competition, estimating they would benefit only a tiny fraction of golfers.

“At most the best two percent of players would ever use them.”

The Interior Department told the Times that the revamped course would remain affordable and accessible for Washington residents.

Trump's architectural imprint on the capital

The golf course is the latest in a string of Washington building projects pushed by the president during his second term. A ballroom is under construction on the White House grounds, plans exist for a giant triumphal arch elsewhere in the city, and the Reflecting Pool was recently lined with blue paint to intensify the reflection of nearby monuments. Critics describe the flurry as self-aggrandisement, while Trump maintains that each project brings prestige to the capital.