Trump’s Monumental Project Renamed “Arc of Triumph of the United States”

The monumental project championed by Donald Trump, once nicknamed the “Arc de Trump,” now has its official name. The White House unveiled it on Wednesday, April 15th: the “Arc of Triumph of the United States.” A name with no ambiguity, for a project that aims to compete with the Parisian Arc de Triomphe and exalt American power.

The idea sprouted in the mind of the American president during his first term, on a visit to Paris for the November 11th commemorations. He has since resumed it upon his return to the White House, with the ambition of creating a monument in Washington without equal. “The one that everyone knows best is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and I think ours will surpass it by far. The only thing they have is history,” boasted Donald Trump last December.

The pretext for such a project was evident, as 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, celebrated on July 4th. Hence the ambition to raise the monument to 250 feet (over 76 meters) while the first project planned to stop at 76 feet (23 meters), echoing the founding year of the country: 1776. A height far too modest for the president, who quickly insisted that the Washington monument exceed the 50 meters of its Parisian model.

Patriotic Triumph

Since ancient times, great civilizations have erected triumphal arches to celebrate their victories. The Romans made it a symbol of imperial power, and Napoleon Bonaparte himself ordered the construction of the Arc de Triomphe in 1806 to perpetuate the memory of his army’s successes.

Questioned last year by CBS about who the monument would be dedicated to, Donald Trump answered without hesitation: “to me.” On Wednesday, April 15th, the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, softened the tone by specifying that the work would celebrate not the president but “the eternal triumph of the American spirit,” calling for it to be a unifying project beyond partisan divides.

The white marble arch will be located in the heart of Washington, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery. With its dimensions, the arch will overshadow the temple built in honor of Abraham Lincoln, which stands a little over 30 meters in height.

The monumental structure will be topped with three golden statues: a colossal allegory of liberty with wings outstretched and two bald eagles – symbols of the United States. Also inscribed in golden letters will be “One nation under God” and “Liberty and justice for all,” two excerpts from the US Pledge of Allegiance.

Controversial Project

The administration claims to have officially submitted the project to the Commission of Fine Arts, an organization whose members were appointed by Donald Trump. While the total cost has not been revealed by the White House, the project will be partly financed by taxpayers. However, amidst tensions with Iran, human losses in the Middle East, and rising energy prices, criticism is mounting, with many denouncing a project designed to fuel the cult of personality of the president.

Last February, three Vietnam War veterans, accompanied by an architecture historian, filed a lawsuit against the project. They warned of a risk of contradiction with the message of unity embodied by the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery established during the Civil War.

The arch is part of a series of controversial architectural projects launched by Donald Trump. The most emblematic is the construction of a massive ballroom at the White House, replacing the East Wing. A construction project temporarily halted by the justice system but now resumed. Its projected budget, funded by private donations, has skyrocketed from $200 to $400 million.