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Ongoing story / Donald Trump

Trump's overhaul of the East Potomac golf course in Washington

Overview · reviewed November 14, 2026

In 2026 the Trump administration moved to remake East Potomac Golf Links, a public course in Washington, D.C., into a championship-level course, a project the National Park Service estimated could cost up to $49 million.[1][2] U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ordered work halted in October after crews cut down hundreds of trees, and the Justice Department asked that she be removed from the case.[3][4][5] In November, Reyes said she intended to appoint a former top federal prosecutor in Washington to investigate whether the government had misled her about the extent of the renovation plans.[6] The nonprofit that runs the course said it would end operations there on Nov. 15.[7] On November 13, Reyes questioned Justice Department lawyers for hours over the planned closure of the course and the surrounding park and appeared likely to halt it.[8]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ordered work halted in October after crews cut down hundreds of trees, and the Justice Department asked that she be removed from the case.[3][4][5] In November, Reyes said she intended to appoint a former top federal prosecutor in Washington to investigate whether the government had misled her about the extent of the renovation plans.[6] The nonprofit that runs the course said it would end operations there on Nov. 15.[7] On November 13, Reyes questioned Justice Department lawyers for hours over the planned closure of the course and the surrounding park and appeared likely to halt it.[8]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · weekly (UTC)

Week of 2026-07-06 (UTC): 1%, 4 of 560 tracked outlets (2 left, 2 center, 0 right)Week of 2026-07-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-03 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-10 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-31 (UTC): 3%, 13 of 475 tracked outlets (1 left, 10 center, 2 right)Week of 2026-09-07 (UTC): under 1%, 1 of 480 tracked outlets (0 left, 1 center, 0 right)Week of 2026-09-14 (UTC): 3%, 15 of 480 tracked outlets (4 left, 10 center, 1 right)Week of 2026-09-21 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-28 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-05 (UTC): 5%, 23 of 479 tracked outlets (4 left, 15 center, 4 right)Week of 2026-10-12 (UTC): 11%, 53 of 476 tracked outlets (17 left, 25 center, 11 right)Week of 2026-10-19 (UTC): 10%, 47 of 479 tracked outlets (16 left, 23 center, 8 right)Week of 2026-10-26 (UTC): 11%, 51 of 473 tracked outlets (19 left, 22 center, 10 right)Week of 2026-11-02 (UTC): 4%, 17 of 471 tracked outlets (2 left, 12 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-11-09 (UTC): 5%, 26 of 474 tracked outlets (6 left, 15 center, 5 right), so far

LeftCenterRightLighter bar: this week so far

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 5 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (10 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Nov 9, 2026 (so far)615526 of 4745%
Nov 2, 2026212317 of 4714%
Oct 26, 202619221051 of 47311%
Oct 19, 20261623847 of 47910%
Oct 12, 202617251153 of 47611%
Oct 5, 2026415423 of 4795%
Sep 14, 2026410115 of 4803%
Sep 7, 20260101 of 480under 1%
Aug 31, 2026110213 of 4753%
Jul 6, 20262204 of 5601%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Nov 13, 2026 · first reported · Headline from DC News Now

    Judge temporarily blocks Trump from moving ahead on Washington public golf course redevelopment

Background

Democratic senators from Maryland and Virginia demanded answers about the plan in July,[9] and in September the Park Service quietly awarded contracts to begin work.[10] At a hearing that month Reyes lamented the anger and threats she had faced over the tree removal.[1] In October she blistered the government for deceiving her with its actions,[3] and after a marathon hearing President Donald Trump called the course "trash island."[11] Reyes then opened an inquiry into whether Justice Department lawyers misled the court,[12] and Trump's social media posts about the course forced the department to explain whether he should be believed.[13]

The project is one of several Trump renovations in Washington; his ballroom and the East Wing demolition are covered in the arc on the White House ballroom.

Supporting stories (13)
  1. Judge declares she’s ‘not the Lorax’ during hearing on Trump’s DC golf course renovation
  2. Trump golf course could cost up to $49 million, documents show
  3. Judge orders Trump administration to halt work at DC golf course until later this month
  4. National Park Service cuts down 500 trees at East Potomac Golf Course
  5. Trump administration seeks to remove judge in golf course case, accusing her of ‘egregious’ behavior
  6. Judge wants former US attorney to investigate whether the government misled her in Trump golf case
  7. National Links Trust says it will end operations at East Potomac Golf Links on Nov. 15
  8. Judge temporarily blocks Trump from moving ahead on Washington public golf course redevelopment
  9. Trump plan to overhaul historic D.C. golf course troubles Maryland, Virginia senators
  10. Park Service quietly awards contracts to work on Trump’s takeover of East Potomac golf course
  11. Trump posts photos of ‘trash island’ after intense court hearing over East Potomac renovation
  12. Judge tears into senior DOJ official and orders investigation into Trump’s golf course plans
  13. Who should be believed? Trump’s social media post on golf course leads lawyers back to court

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 22 recorded updates

November 2026

  1. Judge temporarily blocks Trump from moving ahead on Washington public golf course redevelopmentHeadline from KOB 4 · 28 outlets
  2. Judge wants former US attorney to investigate whether the government misled her in Trump golf caseHeadline from MyNorthwest · 19 outlets

October 2026

  1. National Links Trust says it will end operations at East Potomac Golf Links on Nov. 15Headline from The Hill · 3 outlets
  2. Trump says he’ll blame this person if anyone is hurt or killed at golf courseHeadline from Cleveland Plain Dealer · 3 outlets
  3. Justice Department announces Trump plans for golf course are in the works, course will close Nov. 15Headline from NBC4 Washington · 13 outlets
  4. Who should be believed? Trump’s social media post on golf course leads lawyers back to courtHeadline from MyNorthwest · 2 outlets
  5. Trump obsesses on golf course just 1 week before midterms: ‘Dangerous to play’Headline from Cleveland Plain Dealer · 3 outlets
  6. Judge tears into senior DOJ official and orders investigation into Trump’s golf course plansHeadline from Local News 8 · 46 outlets
  7. Nutjob Judge Ana Reyes Rages Over Trump’s Attempt To Fix Up Ugly Golf CourseHeadline from The Federalist · 3 outlets
  8. Trump posts photos of ‘trash island’ after intense court hearing over East Potomac renovationHeadline from The Hill · 14 outlets
  9. Judge grills Trump administration over plans to overhaul Washington golf courseHeadline from KXAN Austin · 58 outlets
  10. Justice Department seeks to disqualify judge overseeing golf course lawsuitHeadline from The Boston Globe · 2 outlets
  11. Trump administration seeks to remove judge in golf course case, accusing her of ‘egregious’ behaviorHeadline from KEYT Santa Barbara · 8 outlets
  12. National Park Service cuts down 500 trees at East Potomac Golf CourseHeadline from FOX 5 DC · 3 outlets
  13. Federal judge halts tree cutting at East Potomac Golf Links through Oct. 26Headline from FOX 5 DC · 2 outlets
  14. Judge orders Trump administration to halt work at DC golf course until later this monthHeadline from The Hill · 45 outlets
  15. Park service could remove more than 500 trees at historic golf course Trump wants to redesignHeadline from WDIO Duluth · 25 outlets

September 2026

  1. Trump golf course could cost up to $49 million, documents showHeadline from Local News 8 · 8 outlets
  2. Park Service quietly awards contracts to work on Trump’s takeover of East Potomac golf courseHeadline from MyNorthwest · 7 outlets
  3. A golf course for ‘the people’ faces a presidential makeoverHeadline from Bangor Daily News · 6 outlets
  4. Judge declares she’s ‘not the Lorax’ during hearing on Trump’s DC golf course renovationHeadline from KION Central Coast · 8 outlets

July 2026

  1. Trump plan to overhaul historic D.C. golf course troubles Maryland, Virginia senatorsHeadline from Virginia Mercury · 3 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →