National Links Trust Makes Last-Ditch Effort to Stop Trump Takeover

The National Links Trust is making a last-ditch effort to try and prevent U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration from taking control of three historic public golf courses in Washington, D.C.

Since 2020, the NLT—a nonprofit organization created in 2019—has overseen operations of the East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course, Rock Creek Park Golf, as part of a 50-year lease agreement with the National Park Service, which owns the courses. But Trump has alleged that the NLT violated terms of its lease, and could terminate the lease by the end of this month. 

In recent days, the NLT has been publicly pleading its case on social media to retain jurisdiction over the three courses.

“The future of our stewardship over DC’s municipal golf courses is now facing a direct threat,” the NLT wrote in an Instagram post highlighting various media articles about the issue. “We need your help amplifying these stories and bringing attention to the situation.”

Another Instagram post called for followers to share why affordable and accessible golf is important to them. Many golfers with D.C. ties have worried that Trump taking over the courses could mean more expensive greens fees. Additionally, Trump is reportedly considering transforming the 36 holes at East Potomac into one 18-hole course and renaming it Washington National Golf Course.

The NLT’s X/Twitter account has been retweeting dozens of posts about the saga, too. A petition on Change.org titled “Keep DC’s Public Golf Courses Out of Political Control” has nearly 2,000 signatures, and says it is awaiting a response from the NPS.

In 2024, the NLT launched the Nation’s Capital Project, which seeks to revitalize and rehabilitate the three courses at the center of this latest dispute. Last month, Ed Russo, a longtime consultant for Trump and now chairman of the White House Environmental Advisory Task Force, told Front Office Sports that Tiger Woods had agreed to help with the redesign of Langston. 

Work at Rock Creek is underway and likely won’t be finished until 2027. That project’s estimated cost, paid for by funds raised by the NLT, is between $25 million and $35 million. Once the Rock Creek renovation finishes, Langston would be up next.