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Judge halts tree cutting at DC golf course as Trump vows to appeal

Judge Ana Reyes ruled after about 430 trees were cut. Trump calls the ruling unconstitutional and says the course will still close Nov. 15.

18 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from conservative outlets
Liberal9 outletsCenter7 outletsConservative2 outlets
Published 3 min read
Overview

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a preliminary on Monday. It bars the Trump administration from removing or damaging trees at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., while a lawsuit goes forward. The order also requires written notice before any irreparable change to the park.

CBS News, ABC News and the Washington Examiner put the notice period at 10 days. NBC News and Straight Arrow News say 10 business days. The D.C. Preservation League and two golfers sued, saying the government skipped an environmental review.

Reyes found the plaintiffs likely to succeed on that claim. Roughly 430 trees were cut over a holiday weekend earlier this month, according to CBS News and UPI. In her ruling, Reyes wrote that the has rarely, if ever, asked a court not to believe the sitting president.

She said Trump's statements had to be reconciled with sworn testimony from government employees. Trump called the ruling unconstitutional, said the administration would appeal, and said the course would still close Nov. 15. According to The Hill and The Independent, Reyes has since ordered a new hearing.

Three sides of the story

Liberal9 outlets

Left-leaning outlets center on the judge's rebuke and on the gap between Trump's posts and sworn testimony. CBS News reports that Reyes rejected the government's argument that the tree cutting was unrelated maintenance and did not find an Interior Department deputy chief of staff credible. CBS also covers the recusal request and Trump's "crazed lunatic" remark.

HuffPost lays out a timeline: Justice Department assurances on Oct. 12, Trump's Oct. 18 post, then testimony the next day from Interior Department and National Park Service officials. It casts the dispute as Trump's plans versus local residents defending a low-cost public course. ABC News notes that Reyes was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden.

It quotes Skye Perryman of Democracy Forward, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, calling the ruling "a big win." The Independent reports Reyes's follow-up order for Associate Stanley Woodward Jr. to appear at a status hearing. It quotes his remark about the difficulty of having a colleague contradict the president.

Center7 outlets

Center outlets focus on the ruling and Trump's response. UPI reports that Reyes found a plan for the course exists, citing public comments by Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, architectural designs, a terminated lease and a June 28 tour. It quotes Trump's reasons for the project, including his claim that the current course is dangerous and that the new one could host major tournaments.

It sets those beside the plaintiffs' joint statement and notes it is unclear how affordable the course will be. Straight Arrow News stresses the contrast between Trump's announcements and government officials' testimony. It quotes his statement that the administration is asking the for immediate remedy.

Forbes headlines Trump's vow to proceed and says he called the ruling unconstitutional and pledged an immediate appeal. The Hill reports that Reyes ordered a new hearing after Trump posted that he would press ahead.

Conservative2 outlets

The Washington Examiner describes the ruling as a preliminary injunction from a Biden-appointed judge. It lays out the 10-day notice requirement and Reyes's finding that the administration likely broke environmental law. It says the National Park Service had planned to carry out Trump's vision of an 18-hole championship venue, and that the block means Trump likely will not see work begin by Nov. 15.

The report notes that the Justice Department has accused Reyes of bias, recounts tense courtroom exchanges between the judge and government lawyers, and says the department may appeal. It quotes her view that the government timed the tree removal to impede the plaintiffs. It calls her closing Lorax reference "an amusing statement."

It also includes Democracy Forward's statement, which calls the administration "lawless." The Washington Times reports that minutes after the ruling Trump said he is moving forward anyway, and describes the course as on the National Mall.

All sources: 39 articles from 18 outlets

Liberal (19)

Center (16)

Conservative (4)

Related
Injunction

A court order that stops a government or a company from doing something, or makes it act, while the case is being decided. A temporary restraining order is the quick, short version.

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Justice Department

The federal ministry that prosecutes federal crimes. The FBI is part of it, and its head is the Attorney General.

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Attorney General

The head of the Justice Department and the government's chief lawyer. Each state has its own attorney general too.

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Appeals court

A court that reviews a lower court's decision for legal mistakes. It does not hear witnesses again, and above the federal appeals courts there is only the Supreme Court.

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