President Donald Trump unveiled another project on Wednesday for revamping the country’s capital, announcing plans to build a large triumphal arch to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence next year.
Trump showed attendees at a White House donor event various models of the arch, which would be built across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“This would be small, medium, and large. … I happen to think the large by far looks the best,” the president joked as he held up different models of the structure for the crowd. “It’s going to be really beautiful. I think it’s going to be fantastic.”
Trump, who made a decadeslong career as one of the country’s most prestigious developers, including with acclaimed projects on some of New York City’s most valuable real estate, has taken great pride in bringing his builder’s eye to Washington.
As president, he has taken on a number of projects, including redoing the iconic Rose Garden and undertaking efforts to build a new ballroom in the White House.
The fundraiser on Wednesday evening revolved around the ballroom, a privately funded effort projected to cost up to $250 million. More than three dozen organizations and people attended the dinner in the East Room with Trump, including Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Amazon.
“Chief executives throughout history have contributed to making the White House special, and nothing of this magnitude has been done,” Trump told them.
He thanked attendees for their contributions and told them leftover funds from the ballroom project would likely be used to construct the Independence Arch.
That development is set to soar above the Lincoln Memorial. Architectural renderings indicate the stone monument would feature carved wreaths, two huge eagles facing east, and a golden-winged angel brandishing a scepter. It strongly mimics the Washington Square Park arch in Manhattan and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
A top White House official said the arch was Trump’s idea, according to CNN.
“He came up with the design and has been part of the process every step of the way,” the official said, adding that the design is still in progress and timing for construction of the arch is to be determined.
Architect Nicolas Leo Charbonneau, a partner at Harrison Design, is leading the project.
Charbonneau shared a watercolor sketch of the arc to X last month.
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“America needs a triumphal arch,” he said, adding the monument would be placed in the traffic circle in front of Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump shared the rendering on Truth Social last week.