Fact Check: Did Trump claim there are only 59 cities in the world?
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump sparked online reactions after a Truth Social post about triumphal arches around the world drew attention to the number 59.
Some social media users interpreted his statement as suggesting that only 59 cities exist worldwide, prompting questions about what he meant by the figure. The post has since fueled debate over Trump’s remarks and their intended meaning. Let’s fact-check the claim.
Claim: Trump literally thinks there are only 59 cities in the world
OMFG! Trump literally thinks that there are only 59 cities in the world. https://t.co/MjqnyuoWZc
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) October 20, 2026
The rumor originated from an X post by @brainkrassentein that mocked President Donald Trump’s Truth Social statement about cities with triumphal arches.
The post’s caption read, “OMFG! Trump literally thinks that there are only 59 cities in the world.” The post included a screenshot of Trump’s statement, which read, “59 Cities throughout the World have a Triumphal Arch. Washington, DC, is the only one that doesn’t. With the Arc de Triomphe, in Paris, under siege by the Radical Left Lunatics who have taken over the country, we will assume only 58 remain! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump’s post referred to cities with triumphal arches, not the total number of cities worldwide. He claimed that Washington, DC, was the only city without one and suggested that only 58 such arches remained because of protests near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
The statement came amid his push to build a new triumphal arch in the United States to mark the country’s 250th anniversary.
Since 2025, Trump has advocated for an “Independence Arch” near Arlington National Cemetery. Later proposals described the structure as part of a military complex with drone and sniper capabilities.
The X post garnered more than 89,000 views and sparked debate over Trump’s intended meaning. One user clarified, “He said there’s 59 cities with an arch and DC is the only one that DOESN’T!”
Another wrote, “You're wrong, he thinks there are 60 cities in the world, 59 of which have a triumphal arch and one that doesn't.” A third user disagreed with the interpretation, writing, “I don’t think that’s how that reads, but it’s still a stupid tweet.”
Fact Check: The claim is false
Trump did post a statement claiming that 59 cities around the world have triumphal arches.
However, the claim that he “literally thinks there are only 59 cities in the world” is false.
In an earlier post on September 20, 2026, Trump wrote, “Out of the 59 top cities and Capitals, Washington, D.C., IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT HAVE A TRIUMPHAL ARCH…”
His statement refers to cities with triumphal arches, not the total number of cities worldwide. The claim misrepresents his words by ignoring this context.
However, Trump did not provide a list of the 59 cities, so the number remains unverified. Some administration officials, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, have claimed that more than 70 major cities and capitals have notable arches.
Independent comparisons of major cities also show that many do not have prominent triumphal or memorial arches. Although Washington, DC, is often described as the only major Western capital without a monumental triumphal arch, other major cities and capitals around the world also lack one.
