Trump posts 44 photos of ‘trash island’ East Potomac Park as judge delays redevelopment
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Saturday, November 14, posted 44 photographs of Washington’s East Potomac Park, describing the public golf course as “Trash Island” and criticizing the federal judge overseeing a legal challenge to its redevelopment.
Just hours later, District Judge Ana C Reyes issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from closing the park and its golf course for two weeks. The ruling prevents the planned Sunday, November 15, closure while the legal challenge over the administration’s renovation plans continues.
Judge blocks East Potomac Park closure until November 28
Reyes ordered the federal government not to close East Potomac Park or East Potomac Golf Course during the daily hours they were open as of Saturday. The order will remain in effect through November 28 or until the court issues another ruling, whichever comes first.
The administration had planned to close the site on Sunday for an approximately 15-month redevelopment project aimed at transforming the public golf facility into a championship-level venue.
BREAKING: Judge Reyes has blocked the Trump administration from closing East Potomac Park and East Potomac golf course but does not require active management of either. https://t.co/LIZ6LCK22Y https://t.co/d1Px3eNlHH
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) November 15, 2026
In her ruling, Reyes referred to Trump's previous social media statements announcing the planned closure and linking it directly to the renovation project. She said that those public declarations created difficulties for the government's position that the closure was unrelated to the president's redevelopment plans.
"They indicate that the Washington National Plan is final and that NPS will close the Park to implement it," Reyes wrote. "Both points favor granting Plaintiffs' motion for another temporary restraining order."
The judge clarified that the order did not require the government to undertake active management of the park, while allowing officials to carry out repairs in accordance with the existing preliminary injunction.
Trump slams Judge Ana C Reyes, shares 44 photos of ‘trash island’
Before the ruling was issued, Trump published a lengthy post on Truth Social criticizing Reyes and defending his plans to renovate East Potomac Golf Links. The president referred to the site as “Trash Island” and described its current condition as the worst of any golf course in the world.
“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,” the 80-year-old wrote. Trump shared 44 photographs showing what he described as evidence of the site's poor condition, including flooding, damaged fences and debris. Some of the images appeared more than once in the post.
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. 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. 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!” In any event, we’re making progress, and hopefully the Judge will agree that the Dignity, Beauty, and Importance of Washington, D.C., will be greatly enhanced by this soon to be beautiful Project. Trash Island, after years of laughter and scorn, will evolve into something very special, something which the Judge will be able to take great pride in seeing! All over the World it will be acclaimed as being the Best Golf Course anywhere, attracting the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and the Presidents Cup, with all of the Economic Development that will bring. Very importantly, also, is that anyone living in the D.C. area will be given a 50% discount on any and all Rates charged. The Department of the Interior has done a magnificent job of cleaning, fixing, renovating, and rebuilding 83 Fountains, Monuments, and Statues throughout our beautiful Capital. Even the Reflecting Pool, which hasn’t worked properly since its building in 1922, is open, beautiful, and working as it was always expected to do. Perhaps most importantly, Crime in Washington, D.C., is down 91%, A RECORD, and the People are happy and safe again! The Department of the Interior’s Golf Project will greatly enhance everything else that has already taken place in the last two year period. Everyone is proud and grateful again! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP ( TS: Nov 14 2026, 2:35 PM ET )
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) November 14, 2026
Trump also argued that the course's existing layout was dangerous because its fairways were positioned too close together. He accused Reyes of preventing his administration from carrying out improvements quickly and at a low cost. “Trash Island, after years of laughter and scorn, will evolve into something very special, something which the Judge will be able to take great pride in seeing!” he said.
New media post from Donald J. Trump ( TS: Nov 14 2026, 2:31 PM ET ) https://t.co/r6X00zuVpk
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) November 14, 2026
The president has said that the redevelopment would create a “World Championship Public Facility” capable of hosting major golf tournaments, including the US Open and Ryder Cup. He also promised Washington-area residents a 50% discount on any rates charged at the renovated facility.
