Proposed 'Arc D. Trump' Monument Next to Lincoln Memorial Seen in White House Photos

During a meeting in the Oval Office with Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, a model of a possible new monument across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial was placed on President Trump’s desk. The miniature setup, photographed on Thursday, showed an aerial map surrounding the Lincoln Memorial—with a striking new arch displayed on the other side of the river.

News outlets sought comment from the White House on Friday, but none was immediately forthcoming.

Why It Matters

President Trump has spoken of his ambition to “make America beautiful again” and is already pursuing grand architectural projects—among them a new White House ballroom designed to seat 900 people. If realized, this arch would be another bold attempt to leave a permanent visual legacy in the national capital, alongside existing landmarks.

What the Model Revealed

The photograph captured two small models: one of the Lincoln Memorial and another of the proposed arch. The arch model included a design with a golden angel topped above the structure and two white eagles flanking its sides. The arch’s position in the model appeared to be in a traffic circle near Arlington National Cemetery, just across the river from the Lincoln Memorial.

Observers noted that the arch bore strong visual resemblance to Paris’s Arc de Triomphe. In fact, the same design—or one very similar—had previously appeared in renditions posted in September on a “Donald Trump for President” Facebook page, linked to plans for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The image had also circulated via an architectural firm, Harrison Design, attributed to Nicolas Leo Charbonneau.

To date, the White House has neither confirmed that Trump plans to build the arch nor provided information about timeline or funding.

Reactions & Next Steps

Supporters have already started talking up the proposal on social media. For instance, Amy Kremer, leader of a pro‑Trump group, used X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the model, placing it in the traffic circle in front of Arlington National Cemetery and connecting it to the 250th anniversary. Meanwhile, journalists and observers tweeted images of the mock‑ups from inside the Oval Office.

At this stage, it’s unclear whether Trump will formally announce the project, how it would be financed, or how long construction might take. The model raises many questions about his architectural vision and how it would be integrated into Washington’s historic landscape.

Source: Newsweek