President Donald Trump’s latest construction project, informally dubbed the “Arc de Trump”, has now received an official name — the United States (US) Triumphal Arch. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the formal title on Wednesday, saying the massive structure is being planned to commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence.
“In honor of this historic occasion, President Trump and the Department of Interior will submit plans for the United States Triumphal Arch,” Leavitt told reporters.
Displaying an image that she initially held upside down, Leavitt said the “monumental” arch would rise 250 feet (76.2 metres) high “in honor of 250 years.”
The United States Triumphal Arch – Celebrating 250 Years of America 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zJWE8II1m3
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 15, 2026
Its towering height, along with a large golden Lady Liberty statue on top, would make it significantly taller than perhaps its best-known predecessor, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which stands at 164 feet.
The proposed structure is also expected to become the largest of its kind in the world, surpassing Mexico City’s Monument to the Revolution and pushing Pyongyang’s Arch of Triumph to third place.
Plans for the arch first came to light in October when AFP journalists noticed a model placed on Trump’s desk in the Oval Office. It was soon nicknamed the “Arc de Trump” by sections of the US media.
Trump’s arch plan draws backlash over cost and symbolism
The arch is one of several architectural ventures — including plans for a large White House ballroom and renovations to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — that Trump has pursued in an effort to leave a lasting imprint on Washington during his second term.
Critics have described the gold-accented arch, which would loom over the 99-foot-tall Lincoln Memorial, as a monument to the 79-year-old Trump’s vanity.
The project will partly be funded by US taxpayers, receiving $2 million in special funds from the US National Endowment for the Humanities, along with up to $13 million in matching funds for donations, ABC News reported.
However, Leavitt said the monument was intended to celebrate national pride.
“Long after everyone in this room is gone, our children and grandchildren will remain inspired by this national monument,” she said.
(With AFP inputs)
