Washington DC could soon see a major new landmark on its skyline after the Trump administration unveiled further details on Friday for a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch.
As Trump moves deeper into his second and final term — with a challenging midterm election ahead — senior figures in his circle have increasingly focused on shaping a lasting presidential legacy in the capital.
The concept, informally dubbed the ‘arc de Trump’ in a nod to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, would add a new, permanent structure to Washington’s landscape of presidential-era monuments associated with figures such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson.
Design documents submitted for sign-off to a board made up of Trump appointees — following the removal of the previous six commissioners — describe a 250ft arch crowned by a 60ft golden Lady Liberty statue. If built as proposed, it would stand around 20ft taller than the US Capitol building.
Plans attributed to Harrison Design indicate the phrase ‘One Nation Under God’ would span the width of the monument beneath the statue, while a pair of golden lions would sit at the base.
In a Truth Social post outlining his vision for another significant change to the city — following earlier, stalled ambitions to construct a large ballroom where the former East Wing stood — Trump wrote: “This will be a wonderful addition to the Washington DC area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!”
The proposal has also triggered backlash, with critics targeting the architecture firm behind the concept.
One reviewer described the design as ‘Tacky, uninspired, and derivative,’ and added: “Harrison Design’s work on the D.C. triumphal arch is a step backward for American architecture.
“Choosing to design a literal monument to ego rather than creating something original or meaningful for the 250th anniversary shows a complete lack of vision and a questionable set of firm values.”
How the project would be financed has not been confirmed. However, an administration official told the Guardian that ‘some combination of public and private funds’ would cover the costs.
The Trump-appointed Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) is set to meet on April 16 to consider whether the arch should be added to DC’s portfolio of monuments. The current siting plan places it at Memorial Circle, at the foot of the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
That location would put it directly across from the Lincoln Memorial, with the Potomac River running between them.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement: “It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today.”
When Trump first floated the idea last year, he said the structure should explicitly mirror France’s Arc de Triomphe — commissioned by Emperor Napoleon to mark the expansionist campaigns that followed the French Revolution and, ultimately, preceded his downfall.
Napoleon’s own inspiration traced back further, to Rome’s Arch of Titus, a roughly 2,000-year-old monument celebrating victories linked to Emperors Vespasian and Titus. Both landmarks feature reliefs, carvings, and inscriptions depicting military campaigns and defining moments in their respective empires.
Against that historical backdrop, critics have speculated the proposed ‘Arc de Trump’ could similarly incorporate friezes reflecting modern US military actions — from a hypothetical depiction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro being kidnapped by Delta Force, to scenes referencing the airstrikes on Iran that have killed 3000 people but left the decimated regime largely in tact.