The government reported cutting down 150 trees in East Potomac Park, of which 77 were invasive and 77 were dead, dying, or hazardous.
Posted by The Lawfare Podcast, Checked
- Sources
- 6 contradict1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 60%
The Lawfare PodcastSep 14, 2026
The 150-tree total and the 77 invasive count match the government's court statements, but the dead, dying, or hazardous count was 73, not 77, so the 77-77 split is wrong. One CNN report repeats 77 for that category, but the attorney's statement as reported by NBC, Yahoo, City Cast DC, and DC News Now gives 73.
A detail. The sources confirm the gist; the verdict faults a detail such as a date, number or wording.
The guest relays this claim without endorsing it. It counts as passed on, not against the post.
What was said
… She just wanted them to inform the court before they cut down more than, she said, oh, let's say, 10 trees. And this is more than 10 trees. They've cut down about, now they say 100. They said in the hearing 150 trees, 77 of which were invasive and 77 of which were dead, dying, or hazardous. So I guess that makes 144, not 150. And there are around 3,800 trees in the whole East Potomac Park, but they've said, yeah, it's routine maintenance, and it doesn't really have to do with the golf course. …
The Lawfare Podcast · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. Robertson's reported breakdown of the non-invasive removals was 73 trees that were dead, dying, or hazardous, not 77, which makes the split 77 invasive plus 73 dead/dying/hazardous.[1][2][3][4][5]
Contradicts. The CNN report gives 77 invasive and 77 dead, dying, or hazardous, which conflicts with the other accounts of the same hearing and is the only source giving the claimed figure.[6]
Supports. Justice Department attorney Michael Robertson told the court that about 150 trees had been removed from East Potomac Park, with 77 classed as invasive.[1][2][3][4]
Context. The Washington Post and Yahoo reported the government's total of 150 trees as dead, dying, hazardous, or invasive, and said the removals were routine maintenance rather than the start of the renovation.[2][7]
Sources
7 sources: 2 tier 2, 5 not rated
- 1FBI investigates alleged breach of IDs after hackers claim Hegseth driver's licensenbcnews.com · tier 2 · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 2150 trees cut down so far at East Potomac Park as Trump ... - Yahooyahoo.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports, context
- 3Park Service Has Removed 150 Trees at East Potomac Park · City Cast DCdc.citycast.fm · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 4East Potomac Park: Judge allows continued tree work by Trump ...nbcwashington.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 5Government sheds more light on work at East Potomac Parkdcnewsnow.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 6Judge declares she's ‘not the Lorax' during hearing on Trump's DC golf course renovationkq2.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 7Tree removal at D.C. golf course not part of Trump’s redesign, officials saywashingtonpost.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- The National Park Service cut down trees on and around the East Potomac golf course.True
- There are approximately 3,800 trees in East Potomac Park.Mixed
- The Trump administration moved to cut down over 400 trees at a public golf course in Washington D.C. without notifying the court.Mixed
- Judge Reyes requested that the government inform the court before cutting down more than 10 trees in East Potomac Park.True
- Testing of material from the East Wing dumped at the East Potomac Golf Course showed no presence of asbestos.True