Apr 19, 2026
Three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian are suing Donald Trump, according to 9News (1). They argue that his plans to build a 250-foot "triumphal arch" near the Arlington National Cemetery's main entrance lacks congressional approval, violates federal law, and would be disrespectful of those buried there.
If erected, the triumphal arch — inspired by Arc de Triomphe in Paris — would be the largest in the world. And critics worry that the sheer size of it alone would dominate the landscape, leaving nearby landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial — and our veterans — in its shadows.
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"What has happened here is that the president has decided that he can just unilaterally go ahead and erect this monument," Wendy Liu, who represents the veterans who feel personal ties to the cemetery, told 9News. "The thought of being buried in the shadow of what they have described as a vainglorious arch is profoundly disrespectful."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that the monument is meant to commemorate the country's 250-year history — "outfitted with artwork celebrating the success of the American people," a design for which the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has given initial approval. Still, further federal approvals are required to advance the project.
While the lawsuit is ongoing, the Triumphal Arch is not Trump's only controversial plan to concretely change some of the country's most important places. Nor would it become the first time he moves forward with debatable decisions without the appropriate approval.
Trump is currently pushing to renovate the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which used to be one of D.C.'s few apolitical spaces — before he made the disputatious decision to emblazon his own name on the building in December of last year (2).
Trump secured almost $257 million (2) from Congress to close the Kennedy Center for immediate repairs, which critics argue should — like all other major projects in the country's capital — go through the standard review process.
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Nonetheless, in March 2026, the board decided to temporarily pause operations to allow for "the most comprehensive" renovation effort. Roma Daravi, Vice President of Public Relations said in a press release (2) that the project will "transform the Center into a world-class destination worthy of the nation's legacy and future," making it a place "where every American is welcome to experience artistic excellence and premiere entertainment."
An anonymous Kennedy Center employee confirmed to The New York Times (3) that ticket sales and subscription revenue have dramatically fallen since Trump made himself chairman and vowed to make the institution "hot" again, purging the previously bipartisan board appointed by President Joe Biden.
In addition to The Kennedy Center, the Trump administration has also started work on the White House itself.
Beyond redecorating the Oval Office with self-portraits, his administration has begun demolishing the East Wing, which has historically been the base of operations for the first lady. Instead, Trump is planning a $250 million 90,000-square-foot ballroom, despite the lack of approval from the National Capital Planning Commission — the federal agency that oversees construction on government buildings in Washington.
According to the Associated Press (4), Will Scharf, White House Staff Secretary, said during a public meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission in 2025, that "demolition and site preparation work can certainly occur, but … actually building anything … should go through [the] approval process."
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L. Preston Bryant Jr. — who President Barack Obama appointed to chair the commission in 2009 — reportedly added that there are four stages of approval. Proposed projects typically begin with an early consultation, when most of them are still "very much conceptual." But Trump's ballroom seems to have skipped at least some of those steps.
And Trump is not stopping there.
Most recently, he has begun putting plans in place to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
The gray "eyesore" — which sits across the street from the White House's West Wing — does not "align visually with the surrounding architecture" and "lacks any symbolic cohesion," according to the project proposal (5) submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts. Trump prefers that it be painted white.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
9News (1); AP News (4); Kennedy Center (2); The New York Times (3); U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (5)
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AnnaMarie is a weekend editor for Moneywise.
