Before there was Reflecting Pool Derangement Syndrome and Ballroom Derangement Syndrome, I remember covering extensively during President Donald Trump's first term, First Lady Melania Trump's redesign of Jackie Kennedy's beloved Rose Garden. She was accused of cutting down all the cherry trees (actually, they were apple trees, and they were replanted elsewhere on White House grounds) and even — get this — cutting the shrubs to look like swastikas. What the redesign did was make the Rose Garden more accessible.
FactPost, whose bio is just "posting facts," is an official DNC rapid response account run by the folks who used to run KamalaHQ. This week, FactPost posted the fact that the Trump administration is planning to cut down D.C.'s oldest cherry tree to make room for a new Trump golf course.
The Trump administration is planning to cut down DC's oldest cherry tree to make way for a new Trump golf course. pic.twitter.com/QjV2eUTpgL
— FactPost (@factpostnews) July 1, 2026
Since there was no source or link, I headed to Google and did a search and pulled up such reliable sources as People and Newsweek.
Trump’s New D.C. Golf Course Threatens to Scrap Historic Cherry Blossoms and Beloved Riverside Bike Trail https://t.co/IEdY7t4Nlm
— People (@people) July 2, 2026
Newsweek hedged its headline, putting the claim in the form of a question.
The claim spread after President Donald Trump announced work on a sweeping renovation of the publicly owned golf course. https://t.co/ofJlNxAHv8
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) July 2, 2026
Suzanne Blake and Leonardo Feldman write for Newsweek:
While there is some evidence that the golf course redesign could affect areas near some of Washington’s oldest cherry trees, there is currently no confirmation that the administration intends to remove the oldest trees or that it will not.
Newsweek reached out to the White House and Fazio Design, which is in charge of the project, for comment.
…
Currently, no federal agency has publicly announced plans to remove Washington's oldest cherry trees, and no environmental or demolition plan identifying specific trees for removal has been shared.
Also, the reporters had to consult an expert on the subject:
“The historic cherry tree groves of Washington, D.C., donated by the Japanese to the United States, are unquestionably, among the most iconic, admired and visited sites in our nation's capital and are irreplaceable,” Webster University adjunct professor Bill Hall told Newsweek.
“To destroy and remove them for purposes of another golf course development, would be a tragedy and one that we can only hope and trust will be reconsidered.”
They're not removing them, dumbass.
is that a picture of the tree in question
— Matt Bramanti (@mattbramanti) July 2, 2026
I honestly think it's seen better days. pic.twitter.com/ZvgxHKPmRQ
— 👣ℙ𝕖𝕕𝕣𝕠'𝕤 𝕄𝕦𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖🇺🇲 (@OfAthenry) July 1, 2026
And they paved over the Rose Garden 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/666j59jTeE
— TexasTarheel (@RedWaveForever1) July 2, 2026
It’s not a new Trump golf course. It’s the municipal golf course that’s been there for over 100 years. It’s so stupid to lie about things.
— Andrew1776 (@1776Andrew) July 2, 2026
“Golf course architect Tom Fazio said Trump instructed him to protect the cherry trees during the renovation. The Washington Post also reported that the cherry tree grove does not appear to be affected by the current redevelopment plans.”
— abortivus (@abortivus) July 2, 2026
I despise Trump but let’s post facts.
I'm guessing this another leftist propaganda account cosplaying some sort of "fact" whatever.
— Matthew Brown (@Matthew95050234) July 2, 2026
— SunshineDaisy🇺🇸 (@SunshineDaisy) July 2, 2026
Damn, FactPost has really got its TDS-infected followers in a tizzy with this flat-out lie. "Trump destroys everything he touches!"
He is so fucking vain….. and he’s supported by so called Christian’s……
— Random Guy (@randoguy_1) July 2, 2026
These people need to read their own holy book for once in their fucking lives
These are the same Democrats who set up a Disinformation Governance Board led by a woman who called the Hunter Biden laptop story "a fairy tale." I'm surprised Jim Acosta and his iPhone camera aren't out there by the tree doing a special report by now. Hey, Daniel Dale … wake up! There's fact-checking that needs to be done.
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