Trump attacks judge over East Potomac Golf Links renovation plan

President Donald Trump used his Truth Social platform on Saturday to denounce U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes for halting a proposed renovation of East Potomac Golf Links, a public park and golf course in Washington, D.C. Trump called the site “Trash Island” and said the Department of the Interior would transform it into the "best golf course anywhere in the world."

In the post, Trump argued that the redevelopment could attract major tournaments such as the U.S. Open and the Ryder Cup and pledged a 50 percent discount on rates for Washington-area residents. He also highlighted other federal maintenance projects in the capital, including work on fountains, monuments, statues and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and claimed a 91 percent drop in city crime.

The judge’s order follows a lawsuit filed by preservation groups and local golfers seeking to keep the course open. Reyes warned she could impose contempt or sanctions if she found evidence that administration officials destroyed documents related to the renovation. The warning came after whistleblower allegations that officials were deleting records tied to the building projects.

The Justice Department has argued there is no reasonable basis for an inquiry into the administration’s actions and maintains that a failing seawall and other infrastructure issues necessitate closing the course, which is slated to shut on November 15 for an estimated 15-month rebuild. Preservation groups contend the closure would turn an affordable public space into an exclusive club.

The criticism of the judge occurred as the administration has not publicly addressed a nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday that halted all U.S. airport departures for more than four hours and led to over 9,000 flight cancellations. CNN’s Kit Maher noted the contrast between Trump’s posts about the golf course and his silence on the aviation incident.