WASHINGTON — Sure, build a ballroom dwarfing the clean and classic design of the White House.

Go ahead, murder the history of Lafayette Square with prison bars keeping tourists away from our traditional place of dissent. Close the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since it will never be the same again, with your name spoiling the grandeur and memory of the slain president.

Take it all away from the people who live and love it here. But don't chop down our precious cherry trees by the Hains Point waterfront, Donald J. Trump.

To repeat, don't cut down our cherry trees. Don't even think about cutting down cherry trees for a "championship" golf course club.

Until now, a public golf course, the East Potomac Golf Links, sat on public land for scores of years. Anyone can play — or learn — for less than $50. There is no snob appeal, but rather a large community of golfers who enjoy the affordable course and land that Trump covets.

Leaving that land alone and pristine for people to enjoy — for picnics and bicycling too — never enters his mind. Trump defines his job as doing "whatever I want." And he's not wrong.

Trump is even cutting into our national story and symbolism, recalling George Washington as a lad, who supposedly said: Father, I cannot tell a lie — I cut down the cherry tree.

Don't put it past him to deliberately disrespect the first president's myth — as the all-time liar in the Oval Office.

We know the crevices of his ugly character all too well by now. Nothing and nobody is sacred to Trump, except perhaps the rich man's game of golf, his only outside interest. The Lincoln Memorial may be his next victim, in building an arch that blocks sightlines all over the city plan, including Arlington National Cemetery across the river.

The cherry tree grove, a gift from Japan ages ago, welcomes spring to Washington with open arms and ethereal beauty. The trees belong to the people, not the president.

Hundreds of thousands behold them under the blossoms — giving our scarred city a separate peace and smiles between strangers, families, bicyclists and couples falling in love. A "cherry blossom date," night or day, is a city tradition.

Here's what happened, as far as I can read between the lines. The press let go of this story; Trump keeps White House correspondents in a constant churn, chasing one thing after another. They are exhausted from the chase and the media company lawsuits Trump holds over their heads.

His insults are unacceptable, too, especially to women journalists. But they all just take his abuse, meekly and mildly.

Preservationist tried to save the cherry trees in court. A U.S. District Court judge, Ana C. Reyes, ruled that the court be notified if more than 10 trees were to be removed. She also allowed "routine maintenance." She did not put her order in writing to give it heft.

Big mistake, your honor. You can't count on the president's honor.

We've seen Trump outrun the judicial system before, especially in demolishing the East Wing of the White House for building his ballroom. The White House is now permanently defaced by Trump's hand. He didn't ask or tell anyone till the dirty deed was done in broad daylight.

Adding to the cherry blossom plot, the woman judge was appointed by former President Joe Biden, and she's openly LGBTQ. No way would Trump accept her ruling or authority.

The Trump bulldozer is piling debris (from the White House demolition) onto the public golf course and chopping down trees — as many as 60, sources noted, a mix of sycamore and/or cherry trees. This contradicts the court order. What a surprise.

Somehow the cherry tree story is the one that hurts the most. They are living, breathing things of beauty that bring joy to hearts, free of charge. No president should spend his time changing the face of the beautiful capital, under his boot.

It's a crime against a hurting city's humanity.

The author may be reached at JamieStiehm.com. To find out more about Jamie Stiehm and other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, please visit creators.com.

Photo credit: Andy He at Unsplash