President Donald Trump announced plans to initiate the construction of a “Triumphal Arch” close to the Lincoln Memorial, aiming to start within the next two months. This ambitious project, which he revealed on Wednesday, is poised to become another iconic addition to Washington, D.C.’s landscape.
Trump first floated the idea in October during a ballroom donors’ dinner, where he showcased a model resembling Paris’s famous Arc de Triomphe. He promised it would surpass his ballroom in terms of popularity, serving as a testament to strength and grandeur. The planned location for this arch is a roundabout leading to the Arlington Memorial Bridge, near Arlington National Cemetery and across the Potomac River.
In a conversation with Politico from Mar-a-Lago, Trump stated, “Construction hasn’t started yet. It starts sometime in the next two months. It’ll be great. Everyone loves it. They love the ballroom too. But they love the Triumphal Arch.”
This project, often referred to as the “Arc de Trump,” contrasts with the historic Arc de Triomphe, which commemorates French soldiers from the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Trump’s vision is to have this new arch ready in time for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.
The Triumphal Arch is one of several significant transformations Trump has initiated in Washington’s architectural scene, extending outwards from the White House. At the heart of these changes, he has modified the famous Rose Garden to accommodate political supporters and business elites, replaced the White House’s East Wing with a $400 million privately funded ballroom, and adorned the Oval Office and Lincoln Bathroom with gold accents.
These endeavors illustrate Trump’s desire to leave a lasting mark on the nation’s capital, simultaneously drawing admiration and controversy. His modifications to the White House, particularly the ballroom, were initially promised not to interfere with the existing structure, highlighting the often controversial nature of his ambitious projects.
At the home base, he has paved over the once-paradisiacal Rose Garden to host political supporters and business elites, razed the White House’s East Wing to build his $400 million, privately funded ballroom — after promising it would not “interfere with the current building” — and slathered gold throughout the Oval Office and the Lincoln Bathroom.
The president is no stranger to architectural landscape alterations. Decades ago, a then-33-year-old Trump tore down the iconic Bonwit Teller building at Fifth Ave. and 59th St. in New York City to make way for his Trump Tower. Along the way, he destroyed and discarded significant Art Deco artworks he had promised to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
With News Wire Services
