President Donald Trump is reportedly once again turning his eye to architectural ambition, envisioning a monument that would rival some of the world’s most famous landmarks. According to reports, the president is planning what aides have dubbed the “Arc de Trump,” a grand archway inspired by Paris’s Arc de Triomphe to be built near the edge of Washington, D.C.
Three scale models of the proposed structure are currently displayed inside the White House, where Trump has reportedly spent hours personally adjusting miniature versions across a 3D map of the capital.
The idea, according to Axios reporter Marc Caputo, originated as Trump examined land near the Memorial Bridge, which connects Arlington National Cemetery to the capital’s heart.
“Let’s build something like the Arc de Triomphe in that space, it would be beautiful when you drive or fly in,” Trump reportedly told a White House visitor.
One official, describing Trump’s taste in architecture, said simply, “He’s more of a Corinthian man,” referring to the ornate classical column style favored in some of his properties.
Over the weekend, Trump shared an artist’s rendering of the arch on social media, without caption or explanation. The image sparked immediate debate among architecture observers. The Architect’s Newspaper reported that some experts drew comparisons to grand European designs, while other more liberal observers claimed its scale resembled German architect Albert Speer’s unrealized “Arch of Triumph.”
For Trump’s supporters, the project reflects not vanity, but vision — a determination to leave behind a physical legacy that celebrates American greatness. The proposed monument is part of a broader series of White House redesigns and construction projects that have captivated Trump’s interest since returning to the Oval Office.
These include plans for a $250 million ballroom, a redesigned Rose Garden, and marble corridors modeled on the opulent style of Mar-a-Lago, his private estate in Palm Beach.
Aides say the president has immersed himself in the details. Trump has reportedly spent as many as 20 hours in design sessions, alternating between discussions of architecture and national policy. “He’s engaging in impromptu design meetings between peace deals and shutdown talks,” one aide told Axios.
“President [George W.] Bush liked to paint,” another aide explained. “Trump likes to build and design. This is his artistic outlet.”
Those close to the president describe the initiative as a legacy project — not unlike the great monuments erected by past American leaders. “He’s stamping his legacy on the presidency and on the White House forever,” a senior adviser said. “No one can get rid of the ballroom. It will be difficult to take all of the gold away. Who would even do that?”
To Trump’s critics, the project may seem excessive. But to his supporters, it reflects a broader philosophy — one that views America as worthy of beauty, confidence, and permanence. As one adviser put it, the “Arc de Trump” is not just a monument to one man’s taste, but a symbol of a president determined to build, quite literally, something that lasts.
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