Memorial Circle arch

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Memorial Circle arch
Memorial Circle arch
LocationWashington, D.C.
Coordinates 38°53′8″N77°3′36″W / 38.88556°N 77.06000°W / 38.88556; -77.06000
TypeTriumphal arch

Independence Arch is a proposed triumphal arch which would be located on Columbia Island in Washington, D.C. [1] The site is a traffic circle on Memorial Drive between the end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington National Cemetery named Memorial Circle. It is directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial at the west end of the National Mall. [2] [3]

Contents

Proposed by President Donald Trump, some media have referred to the arch as the "Arc de Trump" (a play on Arc de Triomphe). [3] [2] [1] Its purpose is reportedly to celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial. Trump told reporters on October 16, 2025 that the arch will be built for him. [1]

Background

In an April 2025 article titled "Washington Needs an Arch", in the conservative publication The American Mind , art critic Catesby Leigh had detailed the impact that an arch would have on the axis of monuments on the National Mall. [4]

Development

President Donald Trump had a model of the arch on the Resolute Desk as seen in a photograph taken by a reporter on October 9, 2025, but no official proposal was announced then. On October 15, 2025, guests were shown the model at a dinner for donors to the ballroom expansion to the White House. [5]

Trump stated construction of the arch will be built in time for the 250th anniversary of the United States and would be funded by money left over from the ballroom renovation. [3] When asked who the arch would be built for, Trump replied "Me." [6] The large neoclassical arch would be surmounted by two eagles and a golden angel. [7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Watson, Kathryn (October 16, 2025). "Arc de Trump? President shows off model of Independence Arch, says "it's going to be really beautiful"". CBS News. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Diamond, Dan (October 10, 2025). "Trump eyes a triumphal arch to mark America's 250th anniversary". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286.
  3. 1 2 3 Saad, Nardine (October 16, 2025). "What we know about White House plans for an 'Arc de Trump'". BBC News. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ Leigh, Catesby (April 2, 2025). "Washington Needs an Arch". The American Mind. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  5. ↑ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan (October 16, 2025). "Trump Hosts Dinner for Wealthy Donors to White House Ballroom". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ Tsioulcas, Anastasia (October 16, 2025). "President Trump envisions D.C. arch to mark 250th anniversary of U.S." NPR. Retrieved October 17, 2025. Journalists leaving an Oval Office event Wednesday asked the president who the proposed arch would be built for. He replied: "Me."
  7. ↑ Bickerton, James (October 10, 2025). "Proposed Trump monument next to Lincoln Memorial seen in White House photos". Newsweek.
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