The Trump administration Friday unveiled new renderings of its proposed triumphal arch, a 250-foot structure planned to tower over a traffic circle near Arlington National Cemetery.
The memorial, dubbed “Independence Arch,” is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to leave a mark on the nation’s capitol and to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year.
“The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world, ” said Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson. “It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne 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.”
The main arch building would stand 166 feet tall but would also be mounted with two 24-foot-tall golden eagles on plinths as well as a 60-foot-tall, golden and winged Lady Liberty holding a torch, according to images filed Friday by the Interior Department to the Commission of Fine Arts.
The commission is poised to review the plan at a meeting next week.
The interior archway would be 55 feet wide — approximately equal to four lanes of traffic. At 110 feet tall, the interior of the arch would exceed the height of the Lincoln Memorial — 99 feet — that sits parallel to the proposed arch on the other side of the Potomac River.
The phrase “One Nation Under God” would be inscribed in gold on the top of the structure, and four gold lions would sit on pedestals at the four corners of its base.
Renderings show the arch would include two upper-level decks, including one designated for viewing.
The arch is proposed for Memorial Circle, a traffic circle just inside the border of the nation’s capital, within a section of the city that adheres to strict development protocol under Commemorative Works Act.
The law limits new commemorative works in the area to those with “preeminent historical and lasting significance to the United States.” New works require a recommendation from the Interior secretary or the General Services Administration, after consultation with the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission. But the final decision is up to Congress. The parameters are not quite as strict as the Reserve area, which includes the National Mall and nearby memorials dedicated to Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson and is considered a finished public project to maintain the balanced design and spatial harmony of the landscape.
A group of Vietnam veterans, represented by the progressive watchdog organization Public Citizen, sued to block the arch construction, arguing that the Trump administration failed to follow those steps.
Members of Congress, including Maine independent Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), filed a statement in the case arguing that construction of the arch without congressional permission would violate the law.
The Commission of Fine Arts did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new renderings.
Trump fired six of the commission’s leaders last year, all who were appointed by former President Joe Biden, easing the administration’s path to advance the president’s construction priorities in the capitol.
The commission has also approved the White House’s new East Wing, following the administration demolition of the historic structure last year.
The demolition of the East Wing to make room for a proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom and the proposed arch have been some of the most visible of the president’s efforts to leave his mark on the city.
As part of the White House’s proposed budget for the National Park Service, released last week, the president called for a $10 billion fund to support D.C. projects — roughly four times the size of the proposed budget for the National Park Service, which the White House wants to reduce by $1 billion.
Trump has said the arch would be paid for by leftover donations from his ballroom project. A recent spending plan, released by the administration for the National Endowment for the Humanities suggests it will provide $15 million for the project. NOTUS first reported on the plan.
