CFA Approves Trump's Proposed Victory Arch

The Commission of Fine Arts, a federal agency responsible for advising on design within Washington D.C., has voted to move ahead with President Trump's plans to build a 250-foot "victory arch" at the National Mall. The proposed structure, which would tower over Arlington National Cemetery and obstruct views of the Lincoln Memorial, bears a striking resemblance to Paris' Arc de Triomphe but is nearly 100 feet taller.

The design includes two eagles, a winged, crowned figure reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty, and the phrases "One Nation Under God" and "With Liberty and Justice for All." The arch would be the tallest in the world, surpassing Mexico City's Monumento a la Revolución (220 feet) and Pyongyang's Arch of Triumph (197 feet).

According to NPR, Trump had filled the commission with seven of his own appointees after firing all previous members last October. The approval vote was expected, as Trump had appointed all seven members of the commission.

The proposed arch would stand on an island managed by the National Park Service on the Virginia side of the Potomac River at the end of Memorial Bridge from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Secretary of the Interior Doug Bergum told the CFA that the structure will embody "American freedom, American unity, American strength and the American dream."

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle wrote to NPR: "The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world. It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike." However, it remains unclear when or if construction will proceed.

A group of Vietnam War veterans filed a lawsuit to stop the construction, arguing that Congressional approval is needed. Nearly all 1,000 public comments submitted prior to the vote opposed the proposed arch and its size, with only one individual submitting an alternate design.

According to Al Jazeera, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle hailed the commission’s approval as a "step in accomplishing President Trump’s promise to the American people from the campaign trail — to Make America Safe and Beautiful Again." The arch has faced criticism, including for potentially obscuring views of the national cemetery, a resting place for war veterans.

The vice chair of the Commission of Fine Arts, James McCrery II, suggested that Trump’s proposed "Triumphal Arch" ditch the winged statue and eagles on its top. He also opposed the lions at its base, pointing out that African animals are "not a beast natural to the North American continent." The commission still needs to vote on final approval for the proposal after reviewing updated designs.

The phrases "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice For All" would be written in gold lettering atop either side of the monument. About three out of every four people who delivered public comments about the project expressed opposition, many of them citing its enormous size.