Trump unveils triumphal arch design plans: NPR

President Trump on Friday Unveiled Officer architectural rendering To the triumphal arch he plans to add to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The proposed memorial would stand at one end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge next to Arlington National Cemetery.

In addition to the President’s position on Truth Social, plans were issued by the Commission of Fine Arts, a federal agency with authority to review the design and aesthetics of construction within Washington, D.C., and produced by Harrison DesignAn architecture, interior and landscape design firm with offices in six US cities, including DC. The mockup shows a structure similar to the 3D model that Trump presented at a fundraising dinner at the White House last October.

This model of President Trump’s proposed triumphal arch was shown at a White House press conference on October 15, 2025.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

At 250 feet tall, the structure’s overall height is intended to serve as a “fitting recognition of America’s 250th birthday,” the White House said in an email to NPR.

What is the purpose of a monument and who is it to honor?

The proposed arch closely resembles Paris’s Arc de Triomphe – although it would be about 100 feet higher – and has two golden eagles at its top and a winged, crowned figure reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty (which was gifted to the US by France in 1884.) On one side, the words “One Nation under God” appear, with the phrase “Liberty and justice for all” on the other.

The structure will also loom over the nearby Lincoln Memorial – at more than double the height.

“The Triumphal Arch at Memorial Circle is going to become one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but around the world,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in an email to NPR. “It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, families of the fallen, and all Americans, serving as a visual reminder of the great sacrifices made by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today. President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest nation on earth – America – the glory it deserves.”

When CBS political correspondent Ed O’Keefe asked whom the memorial was intended to honor after Trump initially unveiled his plans in October, Trump responded: “Me.” The exchange was captured on social media Video.

A group of Vietnam War veterans launched trial In February, the Trump administration sought to stop construction of the arch. The plaintiffs argued that the project violates laws requiring explicit congressional authorization for commemorative works or the construction of any “building or structure” on federal park grounds in DC, among other issues.

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris as part of the city’s Christmas celebrations (2007).

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Christophe Anna/AP

In an interview with NPR, Sue Mobley, Monument Lab’s research director, said of the proposed plans for the Arch, “This is textbook Trump.” Philadelphia-based nonprofit design studio reimagining public art and structures. “This should be the biggest one. This is the authoritarian impulse.” Trump has repeatedly repeated accusations of authoritarianism, rejecting the dictator label.

Mobley said he doesn’t think the plans will come to fruition. “This will probably get tangled up in court,” he said.

approval process

The White House said it would “follow all legal requirements” in the construction of the Triumphal Arch. As part of that process, it noted the National Park Service’s recent request to submit potential designs to the Commission of Fine Arts. there are plans scheduled Will be reviewed next week. At this point, that commission is composed entirely of Trump-appointed members. (In October 2025, Trump took the unusual step of dismissing six sitting members of the commission.) The National Capital Planning Commission, the federal government’s central planning agency for the National Capital Region, is also expected to consider the plans.

The White House said the estimated cost of the project, which will be funded by a combination of public and private funding, is still being calculated. Harrison Design, the architecture firm behind the plans, did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for information about the price tag.

Multiple DC Makeover Projects

The Arch plans are the latest in a series of current and potential architectural interventions for the White House in and around Washington, D.C.

Most dramatically, the administration is pushing to build a $400 million neoclassical ballroom at the White House. A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily allowed construction of the ballroom to proceed while the administration challenged the march. ruling That it requires Congress’s approval. Whatever the outcome, the historic East Wing has already been demolished to make room for the new structure.

Trump has transformed the White House Rose Garden into a stone-covered patio. The goal is to close the Kennedy Center for two years for their convenience. major renovation (A coalition of groups including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects, and the DC Preservation League, filed a lawsuit The plans were opposed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in March.) And he has proposed architectural changes to Washington Dulles International Airport through a Department of Transportation initiative. launched The Northern Virginia airport underwent renovations late last year. Several major architecture firms have done so, including Zaha Hadid Architects and Adjaye Associates submitted a proposal.

The President also signed in August executive Order New federal buildings with construction budgets over $50 million are required to be designed in “Classical” or “Traditional” styles.

Anastasia Tsiolakas contributed to this story.