WASHINGTON — A 250-foot arch that President Donald Trump hopes to build near the Potomac River in the next few months would feature winged eagles, Lady Liberty and a line from the Pledge of Allegiance, according to new renderings obtained by NBC News.
The renderings were filed by the Department of the Interior with the Commission of Fine Arts for official review next week, according to a spokesman for the CFA. Trump later confirmed the filing in a Truth Social post.
"I am pleased to announce that TODAY my Administration officially filed the presentation and plans to the highly respected Commission of Fine Arts for what will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World," Trump wrote. "This will be a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!"
The images show a winged Lady Liberty atop the arch, along with two 24-foot eagles. The structure itself would be 166 feet tall, with the statue on top bringing it to 250 feet.
The renderings, which were made by Harrison Design, display the words “One Nation Under God” prominently and feature four large golden lions at the base of Memorial Circle.
The Washington Post was first to report on the renderings.
In a statement to NBC News, White House spokesman Davis Ingle said the arch “will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today.”
“President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest Nation on earth — America — the glory it deserves,” Ingle added.
Trump on Monday was seen walking around with what appeared to be renderings of the arch at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
The project has already faced some legal setbacks after veterans and historians sued the Trump administration over the planned arch in February, arguing that congressional approval is required for construction. They also said they would be negatively affected by the increased traffic that the arch would attract, along with the loss of the unobstructed view between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.
As a result of that lawsuit, a federal judge in Washington is requiring the Trump administration to give the court 14 days’ notice before beginning construction of the planned “Independence Arch” in Memorial Circle.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who oversaw Trump's 2020 election interference case in Washington, also ordered the National Park Service not to begin construction unless it first publishes a notice stating its authorization on the NPS planning, environment and public comment website.
In a statement to NBC News on Friday, an attorney with Public Citizen Litigation Group and counsel for the plaintiffs wrote: “Construction of a commemorative arch in Memorial Circle without congressional authorization is unlawful. Because Congress has not authorized the President’s project, consideration of design specifics is, at best, premature.”
“That said, the proposed design only confirms that the arch, if constructed, would obstruct the view between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial that has intentionally been preserved for over a century to symbolize the reunification of our Nation following the Civil War,” attorney Nick Sansone added.
There are also concerns about the height of the arch, given its proximity to Washington Reagan National Airport and its planned location in the middle of some of the busiest airspace in the country. One of the approach paths for the airport runs just east of Columbia Island, only a few hundred feet from the proposed arch site.
The arch is one of Trump's many efforts to leave his mark on Washington's architecture and landmarks.
Last year, he announced the demolition of the White House's East Wing, which he plans to replace with a 90,000-square-foot ballroom financed by $400 million in private donations. Comcast Corp., the parent company of NBC News, is one of the many donors.
The project has faced legal hurdles, with a federal judge late last month temporarily blocking construction.
Separately, the president's name was affixed to both the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Kennedy Center, where members of the president's handpicked board voted to rename the performance venue. That sparked a lawsuit from a Democratic lawmaker who argued that changing the name would require congressional approval.
The center is scheduled to close for two years starting in July for a $250 million renovation project sought by Trump.
