WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is proposing an ambitious project to construct a grand arch reminiscent of Parisian style, positioned just west of the iconic Lincoln Memorial.
During a White House dinner on Wednesday, Trump presented this vision to an assembly of affluent business leaders who have committed funds towards a $250 million project to add a sprawling ballroom to the Executive Mansion. However, he refrained from specifying the expected cost of this monumental arch.
“It’s going to be really beautiful,” Trump expressed, adding, “I think it’s going to be fantastic.”
Presidents often aim to leave a lasting impact on the White House, and Trump is no exception. He has already made notable changes, such as redesigning the Rose Garden into a stone-clad patio.
Yet, the proposed arch extends beyond the White House grounds, offering Trump the opportunity to contribute a new landmark to a city renowned for its monuments. This initiative aligns with his previous statements about revitalizing the city by replacing “tired” landscapes, along with addressing damaged signage and medians.
It appears that Trump’s vision is influenced by French architecture.
The proposed arch bears a striking resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the famous monument at the end of the Champs-Élysées honoring those who fought for France during the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars.
A military parade held in Washington earlier this year to mark the Army’s 250th birthday was inspired after Trump witnessed a similar event down the famous Parisian boulevard eight years ago as a guest of France’s president, Emmanuel Macron.
The White House did not immediately respond Thursday to an emailed request for more information on the arch, including the timeline for completing it.
Harrison Design, a local firm, is working on the project, according to a weekend social media post from Trump. A representative for the firm did not respond to an emailed request seeking comment Thursday.
It was unclear if the White House has presented the proposal to the National Capital Planning Commission, which has responsibility over planning and siting monuments, memorials and statues in the city. The commission’s offices have been closed during the government shutdown.
L. Preston Bryant Jr., a former chairman of the commission, said in an email that federal law requires that the proposed arch be put through the commission’s review and approval process.
The arch would stand at the Washington end of Memorial Bridge, which spans the Potomac River from Arlington, Virginia. At the dinner, Trump showed off three different sized models of the arch, which will feature a statue of Lady Liberty on top, and acknowledged that the largest one was his favorite.
Trump thanked his dinner guests for being “so generous in your contributions” to pay for the ballroom and said there might be enough money left over to cover the cost of building the arch.
“It’s fully taken care of now and, in fact, we’ll have money left over and we’ll use that for something,” he said. “We’ll use that probably maybe for the arch or something else that will come. But we love to fix up Washington.”
The White House has said it will disclose information on who has contributed money to build the ballroom, but has yet to do so. That project was announced in late July.
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Associated Press video journalist Mike Pesoli contributed to this report.
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