Trump’s proposal for a new triumphal arch in the nation’s capital would introduce a gilded, classical-style monument near the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, according to plans released by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The 12-page design, unveiled Friday, calls for a winged figure holding what the plan describes as a torch and crown at the top of the arch, with golden eagles on either side and four lions at the base, all gilded.
Under the plan’s specifications, the arch would rise 250 feet (76.2 meters) from its base to the tip of the winged figure’s torch. The design also calls for gold inscriptions on either side of the monument, including “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All.”
The proposal would locate the arch between the Lincoln Memorial to the east and Arlington National Cemetery to the west. The plan places the structure within a traffic circle that would connect Washington with northern Virginia, shaping both the monument’s immediate surroundings and the approach for vehicles and pedestrians.
In social media posts, Trump described the arch as something Americans could enjoy “for many decades to come,” and said it “will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World.” Trump has previously said he wanted the arch near the Lincoln Memorial and argued that the capital first sought such a monument about 200 years ago.
Trump also cited earlier attempts to build something similar, saying that a project was interrupted by the Civil War and that “they almost built something in 1902, but it never happened.” In his remarks, he also pointed to the presence of similar monuments in major cities around the world, saying Washington is the only one without such a structure.
The arch plan is part of a broader set of architectural and landscaping changes Trump is pursuing as he begins his second term. The same Fine Arts plan release described how the arch fits into the Trump administration’s other efforts, including a large ballroom at the White House, changes to the Oval Office, and converting the Rose Garden into a stone-covered patio.
Trump has also linked the arch idea to his past comments about sprucing up Washington, including replacing what he has described as “tired” grasses and fixing broken signage and street medians. By placing the monument in a prominent area already defined by national memorials, Trump’s proposal would add another large-scale centerpiece to a city known for monumental landmarks.