Donald Trump Shares 3 Models of ‘Arc de Trump’ Monument in D.C., One of Which Would Dwarf the Lincoln Memorial

Former President Donald Trump, 79, has announced plans to install a new monument between Arlington National Cemetery and Washington, D.C., as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American Independence next year, according to BBC, Time, and CNN.

The proposed monument — a triumphal arch reminiscent of Paris’s Arc de Triomphe — would stand on a roundabout across the Potomac River from the western end of the National Mall, stretching from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol. The structure would also face in the direction of the White House.

During a donor event at the White House on October 15, Trump presented three differently sized models of the monument, describing them as “small, medium, and large.” Holding up the designs — a white arch featuring marble eagles and a golden Lady Liberty — he quipped, “I happen to think the large by far looks the best.”

Architect Nicolas Leo Charbonneau from Harrison Design shared a watercolor rendering of the project on X, depicting the arch positioned in the center of a roundabout with the Lincoln Memorial in the background. “America needs a triumphal arch!” he wrote. Trump later reposted the image on Truth Social.

“Every time somebody rides over that beautiful bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, they literally say something is supposed to be here,” Trump said, according to BBC. “We have versions of it… This is a mock-up.”

A senior White House official told CNN that the monument’s concept came directly from Trump himself: “He came up with the design and has been part of the process every step of the way.”

The timeline for construction and the overall cost remain uncertain. However, Trump reportedly mentioned that any leftover funds from the ongoing construction of a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom could be redirected to the arch project.

Trump has already overseen several major changes to the White House, including transforming the Rose Garden into what he calls “The Rose Garden Club at the White House.” He has also renovated the Palm Room with marble floors and chandeliers and refurbished a historic bathroom in the private residence.

A source familiar with the couple’s renovations said earlier this year that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump aim to infuse the presidential residence with the atmosphere of their Florida estate. “Their plans for the White House are being implemented to remind them of Mar-a-Lago,” the source said. “That way, when they aren’t in Palm Beach, they are there in the mind.”