Triumphal arch project likely to begin construction this year, POTUS says
The president told POLITICO that he expects the proposed project to kick off in the next two months or so – just in time for America’s 250th birthday
by Summer Lane | January 2, 2026
President Donald Trump has confirmed that a proposed triumphal arch project for Washington, D.C., will likely begin construction in 2026, paving the way for a grand European-style architectural centerpiece in the nation’s capital.
The president told POLITICO this week that the project, sometimes cheekily referred to as an “Arc de Trump” by reporters, should begin “sometime in the next two months.”
As the nation enters its 250th year, the triumphal arch project would be a crown jewel in the president’s celebratory plans, and it also represents one of several ongoing projects that President Trump has personally championed – like the construction of a White House ballroom.
Throughout the year, a potential model for such an arch has been spotted in the Oval Office, as seen here in early October:
The designs for the proposed D.C. arch – adorned with eagles and a winged and angelic woman – closely mimic the style of the Parisian monument to fallen French warriors, the Arc de Triomphe, which sits at the west end of the Champs-Élysées.
The monument may potentially be built on the other side of the Lincoln Memorial, on the parallel bank of the Potomac River, based on some of the proposed designs – although this has not been confirmed.
The cost of the arch construction project is estimated to be around $100 million, according to a prior report from Axios, citing White House insiders, although this is not an official estimation.
Such a project would likely be fueled by private donations.
A steady flow of private donations is also how the construction of White House renovations and the White House ballroom project has been consistently funded.
Photo: Adobe Stock
