Design plan for Trump’s proposed Washington arch is approved by Trump-appointed commission

Trump Washington arch: Design approved by presidential commission for 50-foot monument

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

A federal commission appointed by President Donald Trump voted Tuesday to approve architectural plans for a 50-foot marble arch honoring the nation’s founders near the White House.

The unanimous vote clears the way for construction to begin next year on what would become the first major presidential monument built in Washington since the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial opened in 1997.

The project marks Trump’s most tangible imprint on the capital’s landscape since returning to office in January 2025. The arch, modeled after Paris’s Arc de Triomphe but featuring American iconography, would stand along Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the U.S. Capitol.

Commission members praised the neoclassical design during a public meeting at the National Building Museum. “This monument will remind every visitor that our republic rests on enduring principles,” said commission chair William McIntyre, a Trump appointee who previously led the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The approved plans show a 50-foot-high, 45-foot-wide structure faced with white Georgia marble. Twelve relief panels would depict scenes from the Revolutionary War and the Constitutional Convention. Bronze statues of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton would adorn the arch’s base.

Construction costs are estimated at $75 million, according to commission documents. Private donors have pledged $50 million, with the remaining $25 million requested from Congress in next year’s interior appropriations bill.

Democratic lawmakers immediately criticized the funding request. “We have real infrastructure needs in this country,” said Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the District of Columbia. “Spending $25 million on a vanity project during a housing crisis is irresponsible.”

The monument would occupy a prominent spot in President’s Park, currently used as a pedestrian walkway. Critics note the location sits within the National Park Service’s Lafayette Square unit, though the commission claims authority under a 2021 law allowing “presidential commemorative works.”

Historical preservation groups questioned the site selection. “This area has remained largely unchanged since Pierre L’Enfant’s 1791 city plan,” said Rebecca Miller, executive director of the D.C. Preservation League. “Plopping a 50-foot arch here fundamentally alters one of America’s most historic vistas.”

Supporters counter that Washington needs new monuments reflecting patriotism. “We’ve spent decades apologizing for our history,” said Robert Wilkie, a commission member and former Veterans Affairs secretary. “This arch boldly proclaims American exceptionalism.”

The design process began shortly after Trump’s January 2025 inauguration. The president signed an executive order directing plans for “a majestic monument celebrating America’s founding generation.” The commission, whose five members all received Trump appointments during his current term, held its first meeting in March.

Architectural firm Cooper & Robertson created the approved design. The New York-based company previously designed the Cornell Tech campus and several private clubs. Lead architect Scott Scherer called the project “a modern interpretation of classical forms.”

Engineering studies commissioned by the group indicate the arch would require a 30-foot foundation to support its 2,500-ton weight. Construction would take approximately 18 months, with completion targeted for July 2027 coinciding with America’s 250th birthday celebrations.

The project faces several hurdles before breaking ground. Congress must appropriate the $25 million federal share, likely during next year’s budget negotiations. The National Capital Planning Commission must also approve site plans, though that body currently has three Trump appointees among its seven voting members.

Environmental review could delay the timeline. The Commission of Fine Arts, which oversees aesthetic development in Washington, has requested additional study of how the marble would weather in Washington’s humid climate. “We’re talking about a structure meant to last centuries,” said commission member Justin Shubow. “Material selection matters.”

Background

Washington’s monument-building era peaked during the early 1900s, when the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials joined the Washington Monument on the National Mall. Construction slowed after 1970s legislation required extensive review of new memorials. The last presidential monument, dedicated to FDR, opened 28 years ago after decades of planning.

Trump has long expressed interest in leaving architectural marks on Washington. During his first term, he proposed renovating FBI headquarters and adding a sculpture garden to the Kennedy Center, though neither project advanced. His current administration revived the monument push through executive action rather than legislation, avoiding potential congressional gridlock.

What’s Next

The commission expects to submit final construction documents to federal agencies by January 2026. Groundbreaking could occur in spring if Congress approves funding and agencies clear regulatory reviews. The finished arch would join 158 other monuments, memorials and statues maintained by the National Park Service in Washington.

Trump’s monument could outlast his presidency, creating a physical legacy that future administrations cannot easily remove. The arch’s prominent location ensures it would feature in countless tourist photos and political demonstrations, becoming as much a part of Washington’s iconography as the White House itself.