Apr 13, 2026
Washington, D.C. is already defined by its landmarks, from the Lincoln and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorials to the Washington Monument. But a new proposal could soon add another structure to the skyline (1).
In a post on Truth Social (2), President Donald Trump said his administration plans to submit designs to the Commission of Fine Arts for what he called, “the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World.”
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Renderings of the proposal show a 166-foot arch topped with a winged and gilded Lady Liberty statue, bringing the total height to roughly 250 feet. The design — created by Harrison Design (3) — also includes two 24-foot eagles, four golden lion statues at its base and the phrase “One Nation Under God” etched prominently across the structure.
But when Trump was asked by Ed O'Keefe of CBS News who the monument was meant to honor, he replied: "Me,” according to a video of the exchange shared on social media (4).
Go big or go home
The proposed design has drawn comparisons to Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, but it would rise nearly 100 feet taller. Some architects and preservation advocates have raised concerns about the scale of the project, noting it would stand significantly larger than nearby landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and could dominate the surrounding landscape near the cemetery.
Supporters, however, say that scale is part of the point. The White House has framed the project as a landmark tribute tied to America’s 250th anniversary intended to reflect the magnitude of the country’s history and sacrifice.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended the proposal. In an email to NPR (5), Ingle said the arch “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.”
He added that the president remains focused on honoring veterans and showcasing the country in a way that reflects what he views as its stature and legacy.
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Project faces backlash
In February, a group of Vietnam War veterans and a retired architectural historian filed a lawsuit to halt construction, arguing the project sidesteps federal rules that require clear congressional approval for new commemorative structures on parkland in Washington, D.C.
The group also argued the project would disrupt a historically significant sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House — a view long associated with national unity. They described it as a “vanity project” that would intrude on one of the capital’s most symbolically important corridors (6). The arch would also tower over nearby landmarks and, according to the plaintiffs, could even pose potential risks to air traffic at Reagan National Airport.
"It's textbook Trump," Sue Mobley, director of research at Monument Lab, told NPR (7), pointing to what she described as an “authoritarian impulse.” Trump has previously rejected similar characterizations. Mobley added she’s skeptical the project will move forward, saying it will likely face delays in court.
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Yet, the White House has maintained that the project is being handled through the proper channels, saying it will comply with all legal requirements as plans move forward (8). Officials say the design is currently under review by the Commission on Fine Arts, with additional input expected from the National Capital Planning Commission before any final decisions are made.
The overall cost is still being worked out, though the administration has indicated it could involve a mix of public and private funding.
The biggest of them all
The arch is just one piece of a broader effort by the president to reshape Washington’s architectural landscape during his second term. The administration has placed a clear emphasis on large-scale projects in the capital, from a planned visitors center at the White House to proposed updates at Dulles International Airport (9).
But not all of those ambitions have moved forward smoothly. The $400 million neoclassical White House ballroom project, for instance, was halted after a federal judge ruled that congressional approval would be required before construction could proceed and has since drawn scrutiny over plans to accept donated foreign steel, raising questions about how the decision aligns with broader efforts to support domestic producers.
As for the arch itself, early public opinion suggests it may face an uphill climb. In a February poll conducted by YouGov and The Economist, just 21% of respondents said they supported the structure, while 52% said they opposed it (10). Still, Trump has shown little sign of backing down from the vision.
“I’d like it to be the biggest one of all,” he told reporters in January (11). “We’re the biggest, most powerful nation.”
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
NPR (1, 5, 7, 8) (6); Truth Social (2); Harrison Design (3); Instagram (4); Reuters (9); The Economist/YouGov Poll (10); The Washington Post (11)
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Victoria Vesovski is a Toronto-based Staff Reporter at Moneywise, where she covers the intersection of personal finance, lifestyle and trending news. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, a postgraduate certificate in Publishing from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master’s degree in American Journalism from New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. Her work has been featured in publications including Apple News, Yahoo Finance, MSN Money, Her Campus Media and The Click.
