Trump has unveiled plans for another monument

Trump monument plans spark ridicule from architects and historians

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Donald Trump announced a new national monument design competition on Thursday, triggering immediate backlash from the American Institute of Architects.

The proposed structure would exceed the height of the Washington Monument by 45 feet, according to the executive order signed at Mar-a-Lago. Trump described it as “a lasting tribute to American greatness” but provided no specific location, funding source, or timeline for construction.

Presidential monuments typically emerge years after a leader leaves office through congressional legislation and private fundraising. Trump’s move breaks with 250 years of precedent by launching the process during his first term, following his January 2025 return to the White House.

“This is architectural megalomania wrapped in an executive order,” Robert Ivy, former CEO of the American Institute of Architects, told reporters during a Friday conference call. The organization released a statement calling the plan “a blatant attempt to circumvent the established memorial process that has honored Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt.”

The executive order establishes a federal commission headed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and gives the panel 180 days to select a design. The document specifies the monument must include “classical elements” and “recognizable Trumpian features,” though it offers no further detail about what those features might entail.

Funding language within the order suggests private donations could be matched with federal appropriations, raising constitutional questions about using public money for what critics label a personal vanity project. The National Park Service currently maintains a $12 billion maintenance backlog for existing monuments and parks.

Presidential historians note the unusual timing mirrors Trump’s March 2025 executive order mandating his portrait hang in all federal buildings, another break from tradition where such decisions typically wait until after a president completes their term. “He’s governing like a Roman emperor,” said Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian at Rice University. “First the portraits, now the monument. What’s next, renaming months?”

The announcement arrives as Trump faces multiple legal challenges related to his business empire and the 2020 election interference case. Some analysts see the monument plan as a distraction tactic, though White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed such suggestions. “The president is thinking about his legacy and America’s future,” she said during Friday’s briefing.

Architectural firms contacted by GlobalBeat expressed uniform reluctance to participate. “We build libraries, museums, hospitals — structures that serve the public,” said Liz Ogbu, a San Francisco-based designer. “This reads like a demand for a palace, not a public memorial.”

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which traditionally reviews monument designs in Washington, learned about the executive order through media reports. “We have received no communication from the White House,” commission secretary Justin Williams said Friday. The independent agency must approve any federal construction within the capital’s historic core.

Reaction split along partisan lines in Congress. Senator Ted Cruz praised the plan as “a fitting tribute to a transformative leader,” while Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called it “monarchical nonsense that would make our founders vomit.” The progressive caucus announced legislation to block federal funding, though it stands little chance in the Republican-controlled House.

Construction costs remain unspecified, though industry experts estimate a 605-foot stone monument could exceed $500 million. That figure doesn’t include land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, or security measures that would add hundreds of millions more. The existing Washington Monument cost $1.2 million when completed in 1884, roughly $35 million in today’s dollars.

National Park Service employees, speaking anonymously because they fear retaliation, said the agency lacks resources to maintain current sites. “We’re rationing toilet paper at Yellowstone while they’re planning a half-billion-dollar ego stone,” one 20-year veteran said. The service faces staffing shortages at 40 percent of monuments nationwide.

Background

Presidential monuments traditionally emerge through lengthy public processes spanning decades. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial opened in 1997, 52 years after his death. Congress authorized the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial in 1999, but construction didn’t begin until 2017. These projects require private fundraising, public input, and approval from multiple federal agencies.

Trump previously floated similar ideas during his 2017-2021 term, including suggestions for a military parade and additions to Mount Rushmore. Neither initiative materialized. His current approach bypasses normal channels through executive action, reflecting a broader pattern of testing presidential power limits during his second term.

What’s Next

The commission must deliver recommendations by October 28, setting up a potential confrontation with Congress over appropriations. Democrats vow to strip any monument funding from budget bills, while several Republican governors offered state land for the project. Legal challenges appear inevitable, particularly if the administration attempts to use eminent domain for site acquisition.

The monument announcement deepens concerns about Trump’s view of presidential power and historical legacy. Unlike previous leaders who waited for history’s judgment, he actively shapes public commemoration while in office. Whether any architect agrees to design such a structure remains uncertain, but the controversy ensures this won’t be the last chapter in America’s debate over how presidents should be remembered.