On Friday, President Donald Trump revealed a design for the Triumphal Arch he plans to
On Friday, President Donald Trump revealed a design for the Triumphal Arch he plans to construct in Washington, DC. “I am pleased to announce that TODAY my Administration officially filed the presentation and plans to the highly respected Commission of Fine Arts for what will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
He concluded: “This will be a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!” The post contained a photographic rendition of what the arch will look like, as well.
The arch is designed to resemble the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, and it may surpass the Lincoln Memorial in height. According to Breitbart News, the president has indicated a preference for a 250-foot-tall structure in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. The outlet also mentioned in February that the project is expected to be privately funded.
In January, the White House revealed three optional renderings for the project, calling it, “The Independence Arch.”
“The plan indicates the structure would stand between the Lincoln Memorial in the east and Arlington National Cemetery toward the west and within a traffic circle connecting Washington with northern Virginia. The arch would dwarf the Lincoln Memorial, which stands at 99 feet tall (30.2 meters),” the Associated Press reported Friday.
Harrison Design developed the renderings, according to NBC News
Harrison Design developed the renderings, according to NBC News. In a statement to the news outlet, White House spokesman Davis Ingle explained the structure “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.”
Ingle noted further, “President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest Nation on earth — America — the glory it deserves.”
The structure would sit on the Memorial Circle roundabout at the southwestern end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge along the Potomac River. If constructed, it would become the tallest triumphal arch in the world, The Washington Times reported.
The design was submitted to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a federal panel that reviews major projects in the nation’s capital. The commission is expected to consider the proposal at an upcoming meeting.
Renderings show a towering arch featuring a central figure resembling the Statue of Liberty, along
Renderings show a towering arch featuring a central figure resembling the Statue of Liberty, along with gilded eagles and lions. Inscriptions on the structure include “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice For All.”
The proposal is part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape Washington with large-scale projects. Those plans include a National Garden of American Heroes, which would feature 250 statues, as well as renovations to the White House.
Trump previously showcased models of the arch during a White House fund-raising event tied to another major project, a proposed $400 million ballroom. That plan included the demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for a 90,000-square-foot expansion.
At 250 feet, the arch would stand more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial, which rises to 99 feet. It would also exceed the height of Mexico City’s Monumento a la Revolución by about 30 feet and tower more than 80 feet above the Arc de Triomphe.
