President Trump’s plan to build a towering Triumphal Arch at the gateway to the nation’s capital has cleared its first major federal hurdle. On Thursday morning, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts voted unanimously to approve the concept design for the 250-foot gilded arch, which the administration intends to erect in time for America’s 250th birthday.
The panel, now entirely composed of Trump-appointed members following the president’s removal of previous officials last October, approved the initial design. However, the commission requested revisions from architect Nicolas Charbonneau before a final vote.
The arch will be crowned by a winged Lady Liberty figure holding a torch and flanked by gilded eagles, with four lions at its base. The inscriptions “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” will appear in gold lettering on either side of the monument. Standing 250 feet tall—nearly as high as the U.S. Capitol and more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial—the structure is planned for Columbia Island, a human-made island in the Potomac River near the Arlington Memorial Bridge. It will serve as a grand gateway from Arlington National Cemetery into the District.
The project has drawn significant public opposition. Protesters gathered outside the National Building Museum and displayed signs reading “Stop Arch Insanity,” “No Trump Arch,” and “No Vanity Arch.” Critics described the monument as a “waste of money,” an obstruction to historic views, inappropriate imperial symbolism, disrespectful to military sacrifice, and gaudy. Nearly 1,000 public comments were filed against the project.
Commission Vice Chair James McCrery II, a former architect who had worked on Trump’s White House ballroom project, urged removing three statues from the top of the arch that account for 84 feet of its height and questioned the need for a 250-foot underground pathway. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the monument as an embodiment of “American freedom,” noting the island’s current barren state. The White House has positioned the arch as a tribute to military service, with spokesperson Davis Ingle stating it will enhance visitor experiences at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans and families.
The project faces legal challenges from veterans and historians who argue that congressional approval is required before construction begins. However, with the Commission of Fine Arts now on board and revisions underway, the path forward remains clear.
