A second federal commission reviewing President Donald Trump’s plan to build a 250-foot-tall arch in Washington, complete with a 60-foot-tall golden-winged Statue of Liberty, has been flooded with negative comments from the public.
The National Capital Planning Commission met on June 4 to discuss the project’s application, and more than 1,696 comments were shared on the commission’s website. When USA TODAY analyzed public comments using AI, more than 99% of the comments were negative.
The proposed arch would be located at Memorial Circle, the roundabout between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
“Please don’t build this giant vanity project to please President Trump. No one wants it or his billion dollar ballroom,” Jane Allison wrote in an email posted on the commission’s website. “He’s building monuments to himself and destroying the beautiful city of Washington, D.C. The people used to have a say in this. Trump can’t use our tax dollars to destroy the city the way he wants.”
Last month, the American Board of Fine Arts, appointed by President Trump, voted to approve the design for the Arch of Triumph at Memorial Circle near Arlington National Cemetery. That’s because the president is trying to put his stamp on the nation’s capital through a variety of construction projects, including renovations to the White House ballroom, the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center, and a reflecting pool between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
President Trump has said that construction of the arch does not require Congressional approval. The Home Office, the applicant for the project, wrote in its submission: “The arch’s purpose is to celebrate the victories of the American people, inspire patriotism and love of country, and beautify our nation’s capital. ”
“This ridiculous arch needs Congressional approval and funding before it can be approved by our committee! This is another example of authoritarianism by this corrupt administration!” Jeff Eorio wrote. “There is no appropriation and Congress has not reviewed or considered this monster! It will destroy the landscape from Arlington to the Lincoln Memorial. For our country and our Constitution.”, Please stop this madness! ”
But one commenter was firmly in favor of the plan to build an arch: “I think the arch would be great,” Will Nance wrote. “I can’t think of a better way to commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary.”
Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian to block construction of the arch. They argue that the arch obstructs the view between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, a view “carefully designed to symbolize the nation’s unity and the strength of a united nation after the Civil War.”
Although Congress has not authorized the construction of a memorial arch on federal land managed by the National Park Service, Public Citizen argues that this is a legally required first step before the government moves forward with construction. President Trump also did not seek Congressional approval to begin construction on the banquet hall, a fact that is being challenged in court.
President Trump dismissed the idea, saying the land was “owned” by the Interior Department.
The arch will be installed in the Memorial Avenue Corridor, an area that includes the Arlington Memorial Bridge, Memorial Circle, and Memorial Avenue Bridge on Columbia Island, Washington.
A memo from NCPC staff to the board noted that the Memorial Avenue Corridor was designed as a “symbolic and physical link between the Lincoln Memorial, which honors the 16th president of the United States, the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, and Arlington House, the former plantation home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.”
Edward Stieri of the National Park Conservation Association, who spoke at Thursday’s meeting, said that when Congress authorized the Arlington Memorial Bridge in 1925, it was designed low with classical restraint to avoid blocking sight lines between the monument and the cemetery.
“The proposed Arc de Triomphe would physically and symbolically shatter that relationship,” he said.
The staff memo also notes that the applicant is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to assess whether the proposed project will impact air operations, given its proximity to Reagan National Airport. The proposed project is located along the Potomac River, 3,000 feet from Reagan National Park and near the landing approaches of two runways. According to federal regulations for the “safe and efficient use and conservation of navigable airspace,” the FAA must be notified for any structure over 200 feet to determine “whether the proposed structure poses a hazard to air navigation.”
When considering applications, staff recommends that the commission require applicants to “analyze and justify the height of their projects” in accordance with the Building Height Act, a federal law that limits building heights.
“Arlington Cemetery is a powerful reminder of America’s military sacrifice, dedicated service, and national unity,” Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said at the hearing. “The Arc de Triomphe would convey a jarring indifference to the sacrifices of veterans and detract from the view of the outside world from military families and visitors.”
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is USA TODAY’s White House correspondent. You can follow her at X @SwapnaVenugopal.
