Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
The Commission of Fine Arts, or CFA, a federal agency, has voted to move ahead with President Trump’s plans to build a 250-foot “victory arch” at the National Mall that will tower over Arlington National Cemetery and obstruct the sightline to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. This group is responsible for advising the president, Congress, and the federal and local governments on the design and aesthetics of construction within Washington, D.C.
The approval vote was expected, as Trump had filled the committee with seven of his own appointees after firing all its previous members last October. Current commissioners include Chamberlain Harris, a 26-year-old with no arts background who previously served as an executive assistant to the president.
In renderings made public last week, the proposed arch bears a striking resemblance to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe in its design, though it would be nearly 100 feet taller. In the architectural plans submitted by the firm Harrison Design, the arch is topped with two eagles and a winged, crowned figure reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty. On one side, the words “One Nation Under God” appear, with the phrase “With Liberty and Justice for All” on the other.
During the meeting the committee asked for some tweaks to be made to the design. James McCrery II, a CFA commissioner who was the first architect on the president’s White House ballroom project (before being fired in December after tussling with Trump over the new ballroom’s size) suggested that four lions adorning and flanking the arch in the proposed design be replaced with animals native to North America, such as more eagles.
The proposed D.C. arch would also be the biggest such structure in the world, dwarfing its two nearest rivals: the Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City, which stands 220 feet high, and the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang, North Korea (197 feet high). The lead architect from Harrison Design, Nicolas Charbonneau, said in comments to the Commission of Fine Arts on Thursday morning that the 250-foot height is a nod to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
In comments made to the committee before the vote, Doug Burgum, the secretary of the Interior, said, referring to the proposed site of the arch: “From an architectural, city planning and beautification standpoint, building a triumphal arc on Columbia Island will strengthen the city’s symbolic architectural vocabulary, will enhance the city’s triumphal urban design, and finally fill a long-standing intent for a monumental work on Columbia Island.”
In a comment emailed to NPR last week, when the design was released, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle wrote: “The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world. It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today. President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest Nation on earth — America — the glory it deserves.”
It is still unclear when – or whether or not – the proposed arch’s construction will go ahead. In February, a group of Vietnam War veterans filed suit to stop the construction, arguing that Congressional approval is needed.
The committee noted that of approximately 1,000 public comments submitted prior to the vote, nearly every one voiced opposition to the proposed arch and its size. The outlying individual submitted an alternate design.
