Washington — The Interior Department has submitted renderings of President Trump’s proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, showing that the structure would dwarf the Lincoln Memorial across the Potomac River.
The proposal calls for the arch to be roughly 250 feet tall, more than twice the height of the 99-foot tall Lincoln Memorial. It would be the tallest triumphal arch in the world, approximately 30 feet taller than the Plaza de la República in Mexico City. The proposed building site is in a traffic circle on the Virginia side of the Potomac, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, within the boundaries of the District of Columbia.
The designs were prepared by Harrison Design, an architecture firm in Washington. President Trump has publicly championed the project, stating the arch is for “me” and will commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary. In a post to Truth Social on Friday evening, Mr. Trump announced his administration had “officially filed the presentation and plans to the highly respected Commission of Fine Arts for what will be the GREATEST and MOST Stunning Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World.”
According to a spending plan released by the administration, American taxpayers will help fund the construction. The National Endowment for the Humanities’ spending plan, approved by the Office of Management and Budget in September, reserves $2 million in special initiative funds and $13 million in matching funds for the arch.
The president stated his desire for the arch to be the “biggest one of all” in the world. The Commission of Fine Arts, comprised entirely of Trump appointees, is scheduled to hear a presentation about the arch on April 16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proposed height of the arch?
The proposal calls for the arch to be roughly 250 feet tall.
Where would the arch be located?
The proposed building site is in a traffic circle on the Virginia side of the Potomac, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, on land within the boundaries of the District of Columbia.
Who will be reviewing the plans for the arch?
The Commission of Fine Arts, a panel composed entirely of Trump appointees, will hear a presentation about the arch on April 16.
As plans for this monumental structure move forward, what considerations will ultimately shape its realization and impact on the nation’s capital?
