The River of Blood

Gazing across the manicured greens of Trump National Golf Club, can you envision the Potomac River running crimson with blood? This monument, “The River of Blood,” stands as a stark reminder of a Civil War battle that never happened. Erected in 2015 by Donald Trump, the stone pedestal and flagpole bear a plaque proclaiming, “Many great American soldiers, both of the North and South, died at this spot, ‘The Rapids,’ on the Potomac River. The casualties were so great that the water would turn red and thus became known as ‘The River of Blood.'” The plaque further boasts, “It is my great honor to have preserved this important section of the Potomac River! -Donald John Trump.” This narrative, however, clashes sharply with historical accounts. While the Battle of Ball’s Bluff, a bloody conflict where hundreds perished, did occur in the vicinity, it took place eleven miles upriver. The only documented incident of bloodshed at this precise location involved the deaths of two Union soldiers at the hands of civilians in 1861. Even Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart’s crossing of the Potomac near Lowes Island with 4,500 troops resulted in no recorded fatalities. When confronted with these discrepancies, Trump insisted that “The River of Blood” commemorated a significant river crossing where numerous soldiers were shot. He claimed to have learned of this battle from “numerous historians,” though he later amended this to “my people.” Despite lacking evidence, Trump maintained the veracity of his claim, urging reporters to “write your story the way you want to write it.” “The River of Blood” monument, therefore, remains a curious anomaly. A testament to a fictional battle, it stands in silent contradiction to the documented history of the Potomac River and the Civil War.