A federal agency gave the first approval to President Donald Trump’s design for an ambitious – and controversial – triumphal arch in the U.S. capital, the first step toward building the 250-foot-tall monument celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts – full of Trump allies – voted to advance the president’s arch design at its monthly meeting on Thursday but one commissioner suggested changes. The board will review an updated design and take a final vote on the design at a later meeting.
But as Trump expanded the size of the proposed arch, criticism mounted and some early supporters now object to the project. Classical architects and veterans warn that the arch and its grandiosity would overshadow the nearby Arlington National Cemetery, among other concerns – and some critics have already sued.
Trump proposed a Lady Liberty-like figure standing atop the arch, framed by two eagles and guarded by four lions – all golden. However, one commissioner at Thursday’s meeting suggested the Lady Liberty and eagles be removed to reduce the monument’s height. The phrases “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” would appear on either side of the monument.
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The structure would be built before the end of Trump’s second presidency on the Virginia side of the Potomac River across from the Lincoln Memorial, surpassing its 99-foot height. Anyone entering or leaving Washington, D.C. via the Arlington Memorial Bridge would have a full view of the arch.
The president’s Arc de Trump, as some have called it, is hardly the first of its kind – and many have stirred controversy. Here’s a look at other triumphal arches around the world and the pushback that surrounded their construction.
Arc de Triomphe (Paris)
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The Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile in Paris, France, circa 1900.
The iconic French arch, which Trump said inspired him to propose an even grander monument, was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate the country’s military triumphs. But its construction spanned 30 years and three more leaders, concluding in 1836, 15 years after Napoleon’s death.
Napoleon’s fall from power, changes in French leadership and the death of the project’s original architect made a rocky path to the arch’s completion. After it was completed, members of the public – including author Victor Hugo – argued over the worthiness of the victories and generals chosen to be honored by the memorial.
Wellington Arch (London)
Guildhall Library & Art Gallery|Heritage Images|Getty Images
An artist’s rendering of the Wellington Arch in London, England, circa 1860.
The early 19th century memorial to honor the Duke of Wellington was a large equestrian statue built on top of the existing Green Park Arch.
But the statue was met with public outcry – people said it was ugly and disproportionate to the arch on which it sat. The government demanded that the memorial be taken down, but Wellington refused because he did not want his reputation tainted, and the royals obliged.
The arch was since moved to a different spot in London, and a new equestrian sculpture of Wellington was built close to the arch’s original site in 1888.
Washington Square Arch (New York)
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The Washington Square Arch during the centennial celebration of George Washington’s inauguration in New York City on April 30, 1889.
The iconic arch in New York City’s Washington Square Park got its start as a temporary structure made of wood and plaster in 1889 to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of President George Washington’s inauguration. Its popularity sparked a movement to make the monument permanent, but also a countermovement to keep the original structure.
Residents feared the new monument would attract too many tourists to their quiet neighborhood. People also criticized the proposal to move the arch from just outside the park to inside the park, impacting its natural landscape.
As the wooden arch deteriorated, former resisters jumped on board for a permanent marble structure, which was designed in 1891 and dedicated in 1895.
Victory Arch / Hands of Victory (Baghdad)
Giovanni Mereghetti|UCG|Universal Images Group|Getty Images
The Swords of Qadisiyah, also known as the Hands of Victory in Baghdad, Iraq.
The pair of arches commissioned by Saddam Hussein in 1986 each feature two arms (modeled after Hussein’s) holding two 140-foot-long swords made of stainless steel, including the melted-down guns and tanks of Iraqi soldiers who died during the Iran-Iraq war. At the base of each arm are thousands of helmets which Hussein said were taken from Iranian soldiers killed during the war.
After Hussein’s fall from power, in 2007, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sought to destroy the arch and cranes began to cut off pieces from the arms. But U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad intervened to save the monument for “cultural preservation” and to not exacerbate religious tensions.
