The Arc de Trump: All about President Trump's new ambitious plan near Lincoln memorial

Washington, DC, may soon have a new landmark, one that bears the unmistakable stamp of Donald Trump. The US president has unveiled plans for a towering triumphal arch to rise near the Lincoln Memorial, an addition he says will mark America’s 250th anniversary next year.

Dubbed the “Arc de Trump,” the monument is envisioned as a grand gateway to the capital, inspired by Paris’s Arc de Triomphe and designed to symbolize what Trump calls a “rebirth of American pride.”According to Trump, the proposed arch would greet visitors as they cross the Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery into Washington. “Every time somebody rides over that beautiful bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, they literally say something is supposed to be here,” Trump told donors last week, presenting mock-ups and renderings in the Oval Office.

He reportedly reviewed three versions, small, medium, and large, ultimately declaring his preference for the biggest design.

The project is said to be privately funded by Trump’s supporters and designed by architect Nicolas Leo Charbonneau of Harrison Design, who shared a watercolor rendering of the structure on social media with the caption, “America needs a triumphal arch!” Trump later reposted the image on Truth Social, adding fuel to the conversation about his expanding architectural footprint in the capital.

Remodeling the Capital — Trump style

The proposed arch is part of a broader vision to reshape Washington in Trump’s image. Beyond the monument, his second-term plans reportedly include a $250 million ballroom on White House grounds, marble-tiled flooring, and a gilded redesign inspired by his Mar-a-Lago estate. He has also unveiled a “Presidential Walk of Fame” along the West Wing colonnade, featuring gold-framed portraits of all US presidents, including a striking twist where Joe Biden’s image was replaced with a photo of an autopen signing Trump’s name.

Axios reports that Trump has shown off models and dioramas of various redevelopment ideas during tours with visiting world leaders and lawmakers, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.For now, the Arc de Trump remains a proposal without a confirmed budget or start date. But as America approaches its semiquincentennial, Trump’s vision hints at a future where even the capital’s skyline reflects his enduring pursuit of legacy, one arch at a time.