US President Donald Trump has claimed that a White House staffer was struck in the chest by a golf ball at Washington’s East Potomac Golf Course, renewing his criticism of the public facility and calling for its immediate closure over safety concerns.
The post comes amid Trump’s broader effort to transform East Potomac Golf Links into a championship-level public golf course. The administration has proposed closing the course for an extensive renovation.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, October 29, Trump described the course as “highly dangerous, dilapidated, and absolutely disgusting” and shared photographs that he said showed deteriorating conditions at the driving range. The president has repeatedly criticized the facility’s condition and said a major renovation would make it safer and more accessible. Trump said the revamped course would be affordable and open to the public, comparing his plans with established golf destinations such as Torrey Pines in California and Bethpage Black in New York .
The National Park Service is expected to submit a design by golf course architect Tom Fazio to the National Capital Planning Commission on October 30, according to an Associated Press report . The administration has proposed closing the course for an extensive renovation. The redevelopment plans have also become the subject of a legal dispute over changes to the historic public park. A federal judge has restricted further tree removal while litigation continues and ordered the administration to provide advance written notice before closing parts of the park or undertaking irreversible changes.
