Trump Proposes 250-Foot DC Monument Featuring Eagles, Lions, and Winged Lady Liberty

The White House is set to decide the fate of a monumental 250-foot Triumphal Arch next week, as official designs were unveiled Friday after months of speculation about the Trump administration’s ambitious project for the nation’s capital.

President Donald Trump announced the submission on his Truth Social platform, writing: “TODAY my Administration officially filed the presentation and plans to the highly respected Commission of Fine Arts for what will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World.”

The designs, created by architecture firm Harrison Design, reveal a colossal white stone structure emblazoned with the phrase “ONE NATION UNDER GOD” across its central archway, with a matching emblem reading “LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL” on its reverse side. The monument would stand more than twice the height of the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial, creating what designers describe as a “picture frame effect” for both the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery when viewed through its 110-foot central opening.

Nicolas Charbonneau, the principal architect behind the design, is director of Harrison Design’s Sacred Architecture Studio and is renowned primarily for his work on Catholic churches. In a previous interview with the Arlington Catholic Herald, Charbonneau expressed his architectural philosophy: “The world is ordered so that there’s a harmony to everything. And we’ve been designed to know that there should be an ordering to what we do. A lot of modern architecture flies in the face of that.”

The newly released renderings show significant ornamental elements not included in previous conceptual designs shared by Trump. Most notably, a golden, winged Lady Liberty figure tops the arch, flanked by two bald eagles, adding substantial height to the already massive structure. Four golden lions sit at each corner of the monument’s base, and according to the plans, internal staircases within the pedestals would lead to what appears to be a public viewing deck.

The monument would be situated at the roundabout between Memorial Bridge and Memorial Avenue near the Arlington Cemetery Metro Stop, positioning it equidistant from both the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. If approved, it would dramatically alter the Washington skyline, dwarfing nearby memorials with its unprecedented scale.

The White House has framed the monument as a tribute to America’s veterans and fallen heroes. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle stated in a press release: “It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today.”

Trump has consistently emphasized the arch’s scale in his public comments, previously stating he’d “like it to be the biggest one of all,” adding, “We’re the biggest, most powerful nation.” The monument’s height of 250 feet is symbolic of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

The Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency established in 1910 and composed of presidential appointees, will meet Thursday morning to review the proposal. The commission provides expert advice on design and aesthetic matters to the President, Congress, and federal and District of Columbia governments.

The unveiling comes amid several other Trump administration projects tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, including plans for a new White House ballroom and the recently announced Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.

The arch represents one of the most significant proposed additions to the National Mall area in decades. If approved, it would create a new visual axis between Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall, dramatically reshaping one of America’s most recognized and historically significant landscapes.

The Commission’s decision next week will determine whether this monument, which would be among the largest in Washington, moves forward in the federal approval process. The proposal has already generated significant public interest and debate about appropriate scale, design, and messaging for national monuments in the capital region.