President Donald Trump's ambitious plan for a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., has been unveiled, sparking both admiration and controversy. The proposed monument would stand between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, dwarfing nearby memorials with its towering height.
Key Takeaways
President Trump has unveiled plans for a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., featuring a winged Lady Liberty-like figure, golden eagles, and lions. The monument would stand between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, dwarfing nearby memorials. Funding includes $15 million from taxpayers through the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The design features a winged Lady Liberty-like figure holding a torch and crown, flanked by two golden eagles. Four lions guard the base of the arch, which is inscribed with 'One Nation Under God' and 'Liberty and Justice for All.' The structure would be more than double the height of the Lincoln Memorial, standing at 250 feet tall.
The location of the arch has raised concerns about its impact on views from Arlington National Cemetery. Vietnam War veterans and a historian have filed a lawsuit arguing that the monument would obstruct views of the Vietnam War and Lincoln memorials. A federal judge declined to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the arch, but the legal battle is ongoing.
Funding for the project includes $15 million from taxpayers through the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Commission of Fine Arts, composed entirely of Trump appointees, will review the plans on April 16. President Trump has said he wants to build the arch near the Lincoln Memorial and argued that the nation’s capital first sought such a monument 200 years ago.
The White House has not shared information on how the arch will be funded. President Trump has previously said that since his ballroom project was 'fully financed', some of the leftover money would be used to fund the arch. The president announced the project last year, saying he wants the arch to be based on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, and for it to welcome people into the nation's capital from Arlington National Cemetery as they cross the Memorial Bridge into the city.
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