Donald Trump unveils plan for 250-foot ‘Arc de Trump’ set to tower over Washington

Fintan Starkey
Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:42:17 +0000

President Donald Trump has revealed plans for a monumental triumphal arch in Washington DC, standing at an imposing 76 metres from base to summit.

The structure will be crowned by a gold-gilded winged figure, with a pair of eagles positioned on either side and four lions standing guard below.

Golden inscriptions reading "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice for All" will adorn the top of each side of the monument.

At more than double the height of the Lincoln Memorial, which reaches 30 metres, the arch will be positioned on land situated between that landmark and Arlington National Cemetery.

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Announcing the design on his Truth Social platform, the president declared it the "GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World".

Mr Trump expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating: "This will be a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!"

The president has argued that Washington remains the only major world capital lacking such a monument.

According to Mr Trump, efforts to construct a similar structure date back two centuries but were derailed by the American Civil War. A subsequent attempt in 1902 also failed to materialise.

Beyond the arch, Mr Trump has undertaken several modifications to the White House grounds, including alterations to the Oval Office and the transformation of the Rose Garden into a stone-paved patio.

However, his ambitious £301million ballroom project has encountered significant legal obstacles.

US District Judge Richard Leon, a George W Bush appointee, issued a temporary suspension of construction work on Tuesday.

The judge concluded that a preservationist organisation opposing the development was likely to succeed with its legal challenge.

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In his ruling, Judge Leon determined that the president lacks statutory authority to proceed with such a project without obtaining Congressional approval.

The Trump administration responded on Friday by filing an appeal against the ruling, with lawyers from the US National Park Service arguing that the construction halt poses severe risks to national security.

Legal representatives emphasised the urgency of the situation, writing: "Time is of the essence!"

The motion contends that the suspension threatens "grave national-security harms to the White House, the president and his family, and the president's staff".

Administration lawyers argued that temporary canvas tents, which would be required in the absence of a permanent ballroom, offer far less protection against missiles, drones and other aerial threats than a fortified structure would provide.