Trump Aims to Transform East Potomac Park into Luxury Golf Destination

President plans to demolish affordable public golf course and replace it with 'world-class' tournament-ready course

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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President Donald Trump has initiated a controversial plan to transform East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. into a luxury golf destination. The president has ordered the demolition of the existing East Potomac Golf Links, an affordable public course, and has begun dumping truckloads of rubble from the demolished East Wing of the White House onto the golf course. Trump aims to replace the public course with a 'world-class, U.S. Open-caliber' golf facility that can host major tournaments, despite concerns from golf course architects about the feasibility of such a project on the flat, man-made island.

Why it matters

East Potomac Park has long been a public green space and affordable golf destination for Washington residents. Trump's plan to take over the park and transform it into an elite golf course would eliminate public access and pricing, raising concerns about the loss of a community resource. The president's sudden and unilateral actions to seize control of the park also highlight his tendency to bypass public input and oversight in pursuit of his personal real estate ambitions.

The details

In October 2026, dump trucks from the White House began depositing mounds of rubble from the demolished East Wing onto the East Potomac Golf Links course, located on a man-made island in the Potomac River. The Trump administration has since terminated the National Links Trust's 50-year lease to manage the course, taking full control of the park. While the administration has not yet announced specific plans or a timeline, Trump has stated his intention to build a 'world-class, U.S. Open-caliber' golf facility on the site, despite concerns from golf course architects about the feasibility of such a project on the flat, marshy island.

  • In October 2026, dump trucks from the White House began depositing rubble from the demolished East Wing onto the East Potomac Golf Links course.
  • In December 2026, the Trump administration terminated the National Links Trust's 50-year lease to manage the East Potomac Golf Links.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who has initiated the plan to transform East Potomac Park into a luxury golf destination.

National Links Trust

A nonprofit organization that had been managing the East Potomac Golf Links course and two other public golf courses in Washington, D.C. until their lease was terminated by the Trump administration.

Mike McCartin

A 44-year-old man who grew up playing golf in East Potomac Park, wrote about the park for his master's thesis, and was in charge of the East Potomac Golf Links course as part of the National Links Trust's management of the park.

Mark A. Mungeam

The president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects who expressed skepticism about the feasibility of Trump's plan to build a 'world-class, U.S. Open-caliber' golf course on the flat, man-made island of East Potomac Park.

Bryan King

A 68-year-old mural painter from Arlington, Virginia who frequents the East Potomac Golf Links and is worried that he and other local residents will no longer be able to afford the course if it is transformed into a luxury facility.

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What they’re saying

“We're going to make it a beautiful, world-class, U.S. Open-caliber course. Ideally, we're going to have major tournaments there and everything else. It's going to bring a lot of business into Washington.”

— Donald Trump (The New York Times)

“I think it's a crazy idea.”

— Mark A. Mungeam, President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (The New York Times)

“The park now is a public park. The golf is very much affordable, public-access golf.”

— Mark A. Mungeam, President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (The New York Times)

“It'll be a real loss for a lot of people in the city.”

— Bryan King, Mural painter from Arlington, Virginia (The New York Times)

“There's plenty of very expensive country clubs in this area already. This has always been kind of, like, the people's course.”

— Eamon King, Son of Bryan King (The New York Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the Trump administration to proceed with their plans for East Potomac Park.

The takeaway

Trump's plan to transform East Potomac Park into an elite golf destination highlights his disregard for public input and his tendency to pursue personal real estate ambitions at the expense of community resources. The potential loss of an affordable public golf course is a significant concern, as it would eliminate access for many Washington residents who have long enjoyed the park as a recreational space.