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The Trump administration officially presented this Friday to the Fine Arts Commission of Washington the plans for a monumental Arch of Triumph standing 76 meters tall that, if built, would be the largest of its kind in the world.
The White House announced the project through its account on X with a statement signed by the president himself.
"I am pleased to announce that TODAY my administration officially submitted the proposal and plans to the highly respected Commission of Fine Arts for what will be the LARGEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumph Arch in the world," wrote the leader.
"It will be a wonderful addition for the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!" she added.
The monument, officially named Arch of Independence, was designed by architect Nicolas Leo Charbonneau, a partner at Harrison Design, and stands 250 feet tall, a symbolic figure representing the 250 years of independence of the United States that is celebrated this year.
The design features a white neoclassical structure with clear similarities to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but on a larger scale.
Include a golden inscription with the phrase "One Nation Under God", a winged statue of the Lady of Liberty at the top flanked by two eagles, and four golden lions at the base.
With its 76 meters, the arch would surpass the Arc de Triomphe in Paris (which measures 50 meters), the Monument to the Revolution in Mexico City (67 meters), and the triumphal arch in Pyongyang, becoming the largest of its kind in the world.
It would also .
The president's plan consists of erecting the monument at Memorial Circle, by the Potomac River, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump did not hide his ambitions when in December 2025 he declared: "It is the only major city in the world that does not have an arch. And this one will surpass them all. The one that most people know is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. And I believe ours will greatly exceed it."
When journalists asked him to whom the monument would be dedicated, Trump replied straightforwardly: "For me, it’s going to be beautiful."
Who is going to finance it?
Funding for the project will partially fall on American taxpayers.
The budget of the National Endowment for the Humanities allocated two million dollars in special initiative funds and 13 million in matching funds for the arc, although Trump had initially stated that he would finance it with savings from the East Wing ballroom project of the White House, whose construction was halted by a judge.
The project has generated strong opposition.
Civil organizations, conservationists, and architects criticize that the construction will disrupt the harmony of Washington's historic avenues and that its height could affect the flight paths of Ronald Reagan National Airport.
A group of Vietnam War veterans filed a lawsuit to block the project.
"By obstructing the symbolic and inspiring view from Arlington National Cemetery towards the Lincoln Memorial, it would dishonor his military service both at home and abroad, as well as the legacy of his comrades and other veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery," states the lawsuit.
The Fine Arts Commission plans to review the proposal next Thursday, April 16.
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