President Donald Trump lashed out at U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes on Saturday in a lengthy post on Truth Social, attacking the judge over her challenge to his administration's plans to overhaul the East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C. — a course he calls "Trash Island."
"Trash Island is currently the Worst Golf Course anywhere in the World, but the Department of the Interior is going to make it into the Best Golf Course anywhere in the World," Trump wrote. "Unfortunately, Judge Ana Reyes doesn't want us to quickly and inexpensively fix up the Course which is, also, very dangerous — The Fairways are far too close together."
Trump predicted the renovated course would attract the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup, and said anyone living in the Washington, D.C., area would receive a 50% discount on rates at the course. "When you walk down the corridors of Trash Island, you don't hear the sound of the running Potomac, all you hear is the sound of people screaming, 'FORE!'" he wrote.
The outburst came as Reyes weighs a request to block the administration's planned closure of the public course on Sunday. The course is set to close for a 15-month overhaul, with construction beginning Sunday, November 15. The redesign by architect Tom Fazio would replace the existing three nine-hole courses with one 18-hole championship course.
Reyes has also ordered an inquiry into whether Justice Department lawyers misled the court about the administration's plans, after the National Park Service removed hundreds of trees without notifying her until 15 hours before work was scheduled to begin. In a 70-page ruling, she extended restrictions on the work and barred further alterations without 10 days' notice.
The administration has said it intends to appeal. Trump has made renovating monuments and landmarks around the nation's capital a core aspect of his second term, and has fought opponents over projects including the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool and a new ballroom at the White House.
