US President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday unveiled designs for a massive triumphal arch proposed near some of Washington’s most iconic landmarks.
At 250 feet, the structure would surpass Mexico City’s Monument to the Revolution by 30 feet, becoming the largest triumphal arch in the world and pushing Pyongyang’s Arch of Triumph to third place. The gold-accented monument would also rise well above the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial, positioned across the Potomac River at the far end of Arlington Memorial Bridge and visible from Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump hailed the project on social media as “the greatest and most beautiful triumphal arch anywhere in the world,” calling it a lasting addition to the capital for future generations.
The proposal is part of a broader set of architectural initiatives Trump has pursued in his second term, including plans for a large White House ballroom—criticised by opponents—and renovations to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Renderings show a towering white arch topped by a gilded, winged Lady Liberty, flanked by two golden eagles. The structure features inscriptions reading “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All.”
Inspired by Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, the monument is planned for a traffic circle on Columbia Island in the Potomac River. Trump has said the project is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding and its 1776 Declaration of Independence from Britain.
The proposal has been submitted to the US Commission of Fine Arts, which advises the president on design matters. Trump replaced the commission’s members last year with allies as part of a broader push to reshape development projects across Washington.
The same body recently approved a design for a commemorative gold coin bearing Trump’s likeness, to be issued for the country’s 250th anniversary.
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