Social Media Posts Push False Claim of Trump Chopping Down 60 Cherry Trees

Key Points:

• About 60 trees were removed from East Potomac Park near the golf course, but only one cherry tree was confirmed cut down, contradicting social media claims that 60 cherry trees were removed by the Trump administration.
• The Department of the Interior stated the tree removal was part of routine maintenance, focusing on hazardous, non-native, or dying trees, and RTEC Treecare confirmed they did not remove any cherry trees.
• Renovations to East Potomac Golf Links, announced by President Trump, have not yet begun, and the project faces a lawsuit from preservation groups concerned about public access, environmental impact, and potential loss of historic trees.
• The fate of Washington’s oldest grove of cherry trees within the park remains uncertain, with conflicting renovation plans and no formal submission of plans to review panels as of early September 2023.
• A federal judge overseeing the lawsuit has cautioned the National Park Service against unauthorized tree removal and emphasized the need for proper legal and environmental approvals before proceeding with construction or renovations.