Fine Arts Commission Approves Trump's 250-Foot Arch

The Commission of Fine Arts gave preliminary approval on Thursday to President Donald Trump's proposed 250-foot triumphal arch, intended to commemorate America's 250th birthday in 2026, despite concerns over its scale and placement near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

The structure, designed to rise on Memorial Circle at Columbia Island in the Potomac River, would stand across from the Lincoln Memorial and visible from the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Modeled loosely after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the arch would exceed that monument's height by 86 feet and surpass the Lincoln Memorial by more than double. Officials described it as featuring neoclassical elements, heavy gold embellishments, lion statues at the base, and a potential 60-foot gilt bronze sculpture of Lady Liberty or a winged figure atop a 25-foot pedestal, making its total height equivalent to a 16- to 20-story building. An underground pathway for visitor access was also proposed.

The commission, composed entirely of Trump appointees following replacements in January 2026, voted 5-0 to advance the plans, with two members absent. Chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr. called the project personal for the...