Unveiling Trump’s Vision: First Look at the Ambitious Triumphal Arch Design

On Friday, new visualizations were unveiled for the ambitious ‘triumphal arch’ that former President Donald Trump envisions constructing near Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac River from the iconic Lincoln Memorial.

These illustrations depict an imposing arch, reaching 250 feet into the sky, positioned at Memorial Circle adjacent to the Arlington Memorial Bridge. This landmark, located near the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery, features an inscription declaring “One Nation Under God.” Atop the arch, a golden statue of Lady Liberty with expansive golden wings crowns the structure.

Enhancing the grandeur, four golden lions are poised at the base’s corners, underscoring the monument’s majestic presence.

This arch, towering over 250 feet, would dwarf the 99-foot-tall Lincoln Memorial by more than double its height.

Trump has expressed his desire for this structure to become the largest of its kind worldwide, surpassing notable monuments like the 164-foot Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

“I’d like it to be the biggest one of all,” Trump said in January. “We’re the biggest, most powerful nation.”

On Friday, he posted on his social media platform that the arch would be the “GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL” of structures “anywhere in the world.”

“This will be a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!” he said.

He most recently showed a drawing at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday.

The renderings come as the Trump administration this week reached a compromise with a group of veterans suing to prevent construction of the arch, agreeing to notify the public at least two weeks before beginning work on the project in exchange for stalling the lawsuit, according to court filings.

The agreement staves off the legal challenge for now, though the group of veterans could restart the litigation if the Trump administration fails to follow the legal process for the project.

A coalition of Democratic lawmakers led by Rep. Jared Huffman of California and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, opposed Trump’s proposed arch earlier this year by filing an amicus brief in federal court, arguing the project violates the Commemorative Works Act and requires congressional approval.

A spending plan for the National Endowment for the Humanities released by the administration this week also revealed that taxpayer funds would partially pay for the project.

The spending plan, approved by the Office of Budget and Management in September, says $2 million in “special initiative funds” and $13 million in matching grants are reserved for the arch.