Trump’s triumphal arch project advances after design approval

A proposed triumphal arch backed by US President Donald Trump has moved a step closer to realisation after a key federal advisory body approved a revised design on May 21, though the monument will be slightly smaller than initially planned.

The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), which advises the president and Congress on major design projects, approved an updated version of the structure that maintains a height of 250 feet but removes an eight-foot base included in earlier plans. The revision also eliminates four gold lions previously placed along the base, with the commission reportedly objecting that lions are “not native to the United States," CNN reports. 

As a result, while the arch itself remains 250 feet tall, the overall structure previously would have exceeded 280 feet; under the revised design, it now stands at just over 270 feet when elevation is included.

The updated design also replaces marble with granite for the exterior, a change attributed to durability concerns, and increases the depth of the arch. However, a tall winged Lady Liberty figure at the top remains in place, despite earlier objections from some commission members.

Commission member Mary Anne Carter said she welcomed the removal of decorative elements, noting it would better align the structure with the somber surroundings of Arlington National Cemetery.

Concerns previously raised by architect James McCrery over the sculptural design were reportedly downplayed by the administration. An Interior Department official said the president reviewed suggested changes but “elected not to pursue such an option while respectfully noting the differences of aesthetic opinion that may exist on the subject.”

The administration said Trump viewed the approved design as “beautiful.”

The arch, modeled after Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, is part of a broader effort to reshape Washington’s architectural landscape ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in July. Other proposed projects include a White House East Wing ballroom, a sculpture garden of American heroes, renaming initiatives at the Kennedy Center, and modifications to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The project has drawn significant public criticism, with the CFA reporting that 99.5% of 600 recent public comments were negative. Preservationists, historians, and civic groups have raised concerns about its location, scale, design, and approval process.

Safety concerns have also been raised due to its proximity—less than two miles—to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with potential risks to air traffic. The Department of the Interior has requested a formal aeronautical review by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The project still requires approval from the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and faces a legal challenge from a Vietnam War veterans’ group, which argues it would obstruct views of Arlington National Cemetery and requires Congressional authorization.

However, the administration maintains it can proceed under an obscure century-old authorization without congressional approval. Trump told reporters, “We’re doing it, it’s, the land is owned … by the Interior Department, we don’t need anything from Congress.”

Initial site preparation has already begun, with the Interior Department confirming that “site surveys, such as geotechnical work, have started in Memorial Circle which is statutorily required. This is standard practice to test the grounds and soil. The ongoing geotechnical and site survey work are required before providing a final proposal,” a department spokesperson told CNN.

By Sabina Mammadli