In a Stunning Twist, Donald Trump Cuts Down the Historic Cherry Blossom Trees Gifted by Japan in 1912
Washington’s beloved cherry trees have stood for generations. Now, change is coming
Donald Trump has made no secret of his plans to reshape parts of Washington, D.C. But when dozens of trees start disappearing from public parkland before a major redevelopment has officially begun, questions about what exactly is happening are difficult to avoid.
Those questions carry more weight at East Potomac Park, where some of Washington’s oldest cherry trees have stood for more than a century. Trump wants to turn the public golf facility there into a championship-level course, but the administration had not publicly released a final design, construction schedule, or estimated cost just days before his proposed Sept. 1 start date.
Now, more than 60 trees appear to have been removed from the property over several weeks, according to reporting cited by PEOPLE. The administration maintains that the work is routine maintenance and separate from Trump’s planned golf course overhaul. But with the redevelopment already facing a federal lawsuit, the timing has put fresh attention on what is happening at the park.
Some History Is Hard to Replace
The report found that more than 60 trees appeared to have been removed around East Potomac Golf Links, including near parking areas and across the Blue, Red, and White courses. Among them was a cherry tree near the Blue Course’s 14th green and two large sycamores near another hole. Some remaining stumps showed visible signs of decay.
The Interior Department denied any connection to Trump’s proposed redesign, calling the work “routine maintenance” to remove hazardous, invasive, declining, or dying trees. It said arborists regularly monitor the park and remove trees that could pose a safety risk.
Trump’s Washington plans extend beyond the golf course. He has also pursued a proposed 250-foot “Triumphal Arch”, whose designs were unveiled before final approval.
His changes have also drawn political criticism. Former President Joe Biden recently criticized Trump’s high-profile Washington projects, including the White House ballroom, Kennedy Center changes, proposed arch, and work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
East Potomac presents a different issue because the golf course sits on federal land administered by the National Park Service (NPS), and the proposed redevelopment is already being challenged in court. Preservationists argue that the overhaul conflicts with an 1897 congressional act establishing East Potomac Park for the “recreation and pleasure of the people.”
During a May hearing, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes allowed necessary maintenance but asked for advance notice before more than 10 trees were removed or equipment larger than a sedan was brought onto the property.
The direction was given orally, not in a formal written order. A person familiar with the case said the plaintiffs and court were not notified about the recent tree work.
It remains unclear how close the project is to construction. In a joint court filing, the Justice Department said “no final agency action has occurred” and that “multiple public-facing steps” would come before a redesign. However, Trump announced on June 28 that work would begin Sept. 1, with plans to build “one of the Greatest Golf Courses anywhere in the World” capable of hosting major tournaments.
Photos from Trump’s tour that day showed plans that appeared to expand the golf course by roughly 50 acres into parkland used for cycling, fishing, and picnicking. The plans also appeared to leave out the riverside bicycle trail, miniature golf course, and Washington’s oldest grove of cherry trees.
Those historic trees came from Japan in 1910, two years before the better-known 1912 gift. According to the National Park Service, the 1910 shipment was infested with insects and disease and ordered destroyed, though a small number survived and remain at Hains Point.
For now, the administration says the trees currently being removed have nothing to do with Trump’s planned golf course. The larger redesign, meanwhile, still faces regulatory reviews, a legal challenge, and unanswered questions about what parts of East Potomac Park could ultimately be changed.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
