Donald Trump has been issued a major warning after he unveiled proposals for a monumental 250ft arch in Washington DC, dubbed the “Arc de Trump”, intended to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence.
The US President confirmed on Sunday that plans were progressing for the structure, which would overlook the Potomac River.
The chosen location sits on a currently vacant parcel of land positioned between two of the American capital’s most revered sites: the Lincoln Memorial and the Arlington National Cemetery.
Leading architects have now sounded the alarm that a monument of such magnitude could overwhelm both landmarks, fundamentally altering the character of the historic stretch of the capital.
Catesby Leigh, an art critic who had previously advocated for a more restrained monument in 2024, voiced his opposition to the proposed scale.
“I don’t think an arch that large belongs there,” he told The Washington Post.
Mr Leigh suggested relocating any substantial arch to Barney Circle, near the Anacostia River.
“There’s nothing around it competing with it,” he explained.
The US President confirmed on Sunday that plans were progressing for the structure
|
GETTY
Calder Loth, formerly a senior architectural historian at Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources, shared similar reservations about the project’s proportions given its proximity to existing memorials.
“It would make Arlington House just look like a doll house or you couldn’t see it all, with the arch blocking the view,” he cautioned.
The President has lamented Washington’s lack of a grand arch comparable to those found in other major cities, particularly Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, which towers over the French capital at 164 feet.
While smaller alternatives measuring 165 feet and 123 feet have reportedly been considered, Mr Trump appears to favour the most ambitious option in America’s 250th year.
DONALD TRUMP – READ THE LATEST:
The President has lamented Washington’s lack of a grand arch comparable to those in other cities, particularly Paris’s Arc de Triomphe
|
GETTY
His determination to outdo the French landmark was made abundantly clear when addressing reporters on Sunday.
“I’d like it to be the biggest one of all. We’re the biggest, most powerful nation. I’d like it to be the biggest one,” Mr Trump declared.
However, the project would not be Washington’s first attempt at constructing such a monument.
Rodney Mims Cook Jr, who heads the National Monuments Foundation, had proposed a peace arch before the September 11 attacks led to those plans being abandoned.
Last month, the President shared images on Truth Social depicting arch designs
|
TRUTH SOCIAL
Mr Cook, who subsequently completed a monumental arch in Atlanta, has since been appointed by Mr Trump to the Commission of Fine Arts, the body responsible for approving new monuments in the capital.
Last month, the President shared images on Truth Social depicting three arch designs, one featuring gold gilding reminiscent of his White House renovations.
Funding would derive from surplus private donations originally intended for his ballroom project, with contributors including Amazon, Google and Lockheed Martin.
Congressional approval may ultimately be required for such a monument to be built.
