Focus on the BIG picture.
Sunday, Feb 01, 2026
Outside the box.
Trump Advances Plans for Monumental 250-Foot Arch in Washington, D.C.
President seeks to erect a towering triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial to mark America’s 250th anniversary, expanding earlier designs into a larger, more symbolic structure
President Donald Trump is advancing plans to construct a colossal triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., with a proposed height of around two hundred and fifty feet that would significantly surpass nearby monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial.
The project, informally dubbed the “Arc de Trump,” is envisioned as a central commemorative piece for the United States’ two hundred and fiftieth anniversary next July and would be located at Memorial Circle near the Arlington Memorial Bridge, directly across the Potomac River from the National Mall.
Trump and his advisers have reviewed various scale models, including smaller and mid-sized versions, but the president has expressed a clear preference for the largest design, arguing that its grandeur will leave a lasting impression and fittingly honour the semi-quincentennial milestone.
Renderings of the proposal, shared by architect Nicolas Leo Charbonneau on social media and displayed during White House events, show a classically styled arch topped with statuary and ornamental features that draw on neoclassical precedents such as Paris’s famed Arc de Triomphe and earlier American memorial arches.
Trump has publicly stated that the monument will be “beautiful” and serve as a symbolic gateway to the capital, emphasising its role in celebrating national heritage.
While supporters laud the arch as a bold tribute to American history, architectural experts and preservation advocates have raised concerns that a structure of this scale could disrupt the visual harmony of the city’s historic core and dominate sightlines traditionally preserved for existing memorials.
The project remains under discussion, and its location on federally managed land would require review by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and other authorities before any construction could proceed.
Trump has indicated a desire to see the arch completed in time for the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebrations, and discussions with planners and potential funders continue as part of a broader set of initiatives marking the milestone year.
The project, informally dubbed the “Arc de Trump,” is envisioned as a central commemorative piece for the United States’ two hundred and fiftieth anniversary next July and would be located at Memorial Circle near the Arlington Memorial Bridge, directly across the Potomac River from the National Mall.
Trump and his advisers have reviewed various scale models, including smaller and mid-sized versions, but the president has expressed a clear preference for the largest design, arguing that its grandeur will leave a lasting impression and fittingly honour the semi-quincentennial milestone.
Renderings of the proposal, shared by architect Nicolas Leo Charbonneau on social media and displayed during White House events, show a classically styled arch topped with statuary and ornamental features that draw on neoclassical precedents such as Paris’s famed Arc de Triomphe and earlier American memorial arches.
Trump has publicly stated that the monument will be “beautiful” and serve as a symbolic gateway to the capital, emphasising its role in celebrating national heritage.
While supporters laud the arch as a bold tribute to American history, architectural experts and preservation advocates have raised concerns that a structure of this scale could disrupt the visual harmony of the city’s historic core and dominate sightlines traditionally preserved for existing memorials.
The project remains under discussion, and its location on federally managed land would require review by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and other authorities before any construction could proceed.
Trump has indicated a desire to see the arch completed in time for the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebrations, and discussions with planners and potential funders continue as part of a broader set of initiatives marking the milestone year.
