The National Capital Planning Commission has approved the construction of President Donald Trump's proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. The federal panel voted 8-4 to allow the project, which is inspired by Paris' Arc de Triomphe, to move forward. Construction could begin as soon as this week, according to administration officials.
The proposed arch is intended to attract visitors crossing the Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery into the nation's capital. Mark Paoletta, the commission's Trump-appointed chairman, expressed support for the structure, stating that "President Trump understands as president and a superb builder that it's important to our national identity to display who we are through grand monuments." Paoletta added that Trump admires similar monuments in global cities like Paris, Rome, and London.
Renderings of the proposed arch show it clad in granite and topped with three golden statues. Trump has previously suggested the arch could be converted into a military complex, capable of deploying drones, housing snipers, and storing ammunition.
The project has faced opposition from preservationists, lawmakers, and veterans who have raised concerns about its potential to disrupt views of the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Critics have also questioned whether the project requires congressional approval under federal law. The National Capital Planning Commission had previously approved the site and preliminary plans for the arch.
