The Interior Department has released renderings for a new triumphal arch proposed by former President Donald Trump, set to be constructed near Arlington National Cemetery. The design shows the arch towering approximately 250 feet tall, over twice the height of the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial across the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
Designed by Harrison Design, a Washington-based architecture firm, the arch would become the tallest triumphal arch worldwide, surpassing Mexico City’s Plaza de la República by roughly 30 feet. It is planned for a traffic circle on the Virginia side of the Potomac, within the District of Columbia’s technical boundaries, positioned between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Architectural details include gold-colored statues of Lady Liberty flanked by two eagles atop the arch, alongside four lion statues at its base. The structure would bear inscriptions reading “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice For All.” The arch’s design is said to resemble Paris’ Arc de Triomphe.
President Trump has characterized the arch as a monument commemorating the United States’ 250th anniversary and has publicly stated the project is personal, emphasizing his intent for it to be the “biggest one of all.” He announced on Truth Social that his administration had filed plans with the Commission of Fine Arts, describing the future monument as “the greatest and most beautiful triumphal arch anywhere in the world.”
The Commission of Fine Arts, a federal panel responsible for reviewing public art and architecture—including members appointed during Trump’s presidency—will hold a presentation on April 16 to consider the proposal.
The project will receive federal funding through the National Endowment for the Humanities, with $2 million allocated as special initiative funds and $13 million in matching funds earmarked for the arch’s construction. This financial support was approved in the administration’s spending plan authorized by the Office of Management and Budget.
Questions remain about the arch’s location along a flight path to Reagan National Airport, raising concerns about potential impacts on air traffic clearance and safety.
Why it matters
The “Arc de Trump” underscores tensions around the use of public land and federal funds for projects perceived as political or personal monuments. Its unprecedented scale and prominent location near revered national memorials could impact the Washington, D.C., skyline and surrounding historic sites. The involvement of a federal arts commission composed of Trump appointees adds a layer of political complexity to the approval process.
Background
Triumphal arches have long symbolized national pride and historic victories, with famous examples including the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The Lincoln Memorial, built in 1922, stands as one of Washington’s iconic monuments honoring national unity and leadership. The “Arc de Trump” would stand out as both the tallest and a new form of presidential commemoration, reflecting Donald Trump’s ongoing influence in shaping public memory through architecture.
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