White House Releases Design for Controversial Trump Arc Monument

The White House has finally revealed the design for an ambitious monument named “Arc de Trump”, a gigantic golden-accented victory arch proposed by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to be constructed in the nation’s capital, Washington DC. According to the proposal, as cited from the BBC, the monument, standing at 250 feet or approximately 76 metres tall, is designed to exceed the height of several iconic buildings such as the US Capitol Building and the Lincoln Memorial. Its striking design features golden ornaments, including a torch and crown inspired by the Statue of Liberty. Trump describes the project as the “largest and most beautiful victory arch in the world”. In his social media post, he stated that the monument would be an extraordinary addition to the Washington DC area and could be enjoyed by the American public for decades. The US government has officially submitted the construction plan to the Commission of Fine Arts, a panel that will review the proposal in the near future. This project is one of several controversial efforts by Trump to reshape the landscape of the US capital. Previously, he also proposed building a new dance hall at the White House and major renovations to various public facilities. The funding plan for the monument has also sparked pro and con debates. Based on budget documents from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) released by the White House, the project will receive an initial allocation of $2 million USD and an additional $13 million USD in matching funds. Trump previously stated that some of the remaining funds from the White House dance hall project, which he claimed was “fully funded”, would also be used to help build the arch. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle stated that the monument is intended as a visual reminder of the sacrifices of American heroes over the 250 years of the nation’s history. “This will be a symbol of honour for the freedom enjoyed by American citizens today,” said Ingle. Trump previously said that the arch’s design is inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in France. He wants the monument to stand at the main entrance route to Washington DC, specifically for visitors coming from Arlington National Cemetery and crossing the Memorial Bridge towards the city centre. “Every time someone crosses that bridge towards the Lincoln Memorial, it feels like something should be standing there,” said Trump when he first announced the plan last year.