President Donald Trump has unveiled detailed plans to build a large triumphal arch in the capital, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence next year.
Speaking to donors at a dinner in the East Room of the White House, the President displayed renderings of the project, plus a range of models differing in size.
“This would be small, medium, and large… I happen to think the large by far looks the best,” joked Trump as he held up different models of the structure.
The arch, which would be built across from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., has already been dubbed the ‘Arc de Trump’.
According to renderings and models, the new arch, which looks similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, would sit across the Potomac River to the Lincoln Memorial. The plans show the arch situated in the center of the Memorial Circle roundabout, facing the direction of the White House.
At the end of a press conference in the Oval Office Wednesday before the dinner, Trump was asked about the arch, of which a model sat on his desk. “Who is it for?” asked CBS reporter Ed O’ Keefe. “Me. It’s going to be beautiful” replied President Trump.
“The Arc de Trump?” suggested O’Keefe as a potential name. TIME has reached out to the White House for further details on the arch.
Whilst the cost and timeframe for construction of the arc remains unknown, a potential architect for the project may have been suited.
Nicolas Leo Charbonneau, partner at architectural firm Harrison Design, shared a watercolor rendering of the arc in early September. “America needs a triumphal arch,” said Charbonneau, adding that the proposal was to mark Independence Day in 2026.
Trump then shared the rendering on Truth Social last week.
They were not the only architectural plans Trump spoke about. …
