Trump says America’s ‘magnificent’ Independence Arch would be 'taller than one in Paris'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump shared an update on his plans for a new triumphal arch at the entryway to the nation’s capital from the Virginia suburbs during an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas aired on Wednesday, February 6.

Trump said the Independence Arch will be taller than the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The announcement comes alongside other construction initiatives he has launched since returning to office, including a new ballroom for the White House.

Trump outlines vision for the Independence Arch design

Trump provided fresh details about the project, describing the planned monument as “more magnificent and larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.” He emphasized that the arch will be approximately 250 feet tall, nearly 100 feet taller than the French monument.

He added that the monument is not intended to ensure he is remembered personally, but rather to “bring glamour back to our country” and to restore “prestige” and “beauty.” He further stated, “It’ll be a little bit taller than the one in Paris. It’ll be a little bit larger than the one in Paris.”

The proposed site for the Independence Arch is near the Virginia side of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, positioned atop a grassy traffic circle directly between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.

For reference, the Lincoln Memorial, located opposite the proposed site, stands 99 feet tall. Trump has previously said, “We’re the biggest, most powerful nation,” and indicated he wants the arch to be “the biggest one of all.”

White House officials noted that the arch is intended to become one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, with the administration moving forward to seek approval from the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission.

Construction challenges and Trump’s broader architectural plans

The project has been in planning since Trump announced the initiative last year, including a model shown to reporters in October and images posted to Truth Social on January 23. In December, the president told Politico that he hoped construction would begin within two months, though the cost of the project remains unclear.

The arch’s location along the flight path for nearby Reagan National Airport raises logistical concerns. Due to flight restrictions over the National Mall and the Pentagon, planes currently follow the Potomac River at relatively low heights, which may intersect with the proposed monument’s construction area.

Despite this, the White House maintains that the project will leave a lasting imprint on the nation. White House spokesman Davis Ingle said, “President Trump’s bold vision will be imprinted upon the fabric of America and be felt by generations to come. His successes will continue to give the greatest nation on earth — America — the glory it deserves.”

In addition to the Independence Arch, Trump has announced plans to close the Kennedy Center for two years, pending approval from a Trump-allied board, for construction and renovation.