Triumphal Arch in Washington: This is what the building should look like.Image: Harrison Design
Donald Trump wants to build a gigantic triumphal arch in Washington. Now there are plans of what exactly the building should look like.
April 10, 2026, 9:08 p.mApril 10, 2026, 9:08 p.m
Julian Alexander Fischer / t-online
The administration of US President Donald Trump has published new designs for the planned Triumphal Arch in the capital Washington DC. The monument will be 76 meters tall and will be built on Memorial Circle near Arlington National Cemetery. The project is planned to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States this year.
The designs were created by the architectural firm Harrison Design. They show a gold inscription reading “One Nation Under God” on the arch on which a winged Statue of Liberty sits. Four golden reclining lions are placed on four pedestals around the arch.
Several designs have been circulated in the past, but this is the first time the government has submitted official plans to the Commission for Fine Arts. In the past, Trump had already filled the city’s architectural advisory board with allies.
Resistance to Trump’s plans
However, congressional approval is required for development on Memorial Circle. But there is great resistance to the project. Military veterans and preservationists have already sued the project. The civil rights organization Public Citizen is also trying to stop the project until the government receives approval from Congress and the relevant federal bodies. Democrats joined the lawsuit last month.
Particular criticism is that the structure would block important views when visiting Arlington National Cemetery and would impair the impact of neighboring monuments. With its height of 76 meters, the triumphal arch would clearly tower over the 50-meter-high model in Paris.
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