U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to build the world's tallest triumphal arch to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding.
On the 31st (local time), the Washington Post (WP) reported, citing sources, that Trump is fixated on a plan to build a triumphal arch called "Independence Arch" in Washington, D.C., at a height of 250 feet (about 76 meters).
The arch is one of the Trump administration's key projects to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States' founding and is expected to be erected near Memorial Circle, a roundabout between the Lincoln Memorial, a landmark of the capital Washington, D.C., and Arlington National Cemetery.
According to the sources, Trump last year reviewed proposals for arches 123 feet (about 37 meters) and 165 feet (about 50 meters) tall but ultimately leaned toward 250 feet. The idea is that an overwhelmingly tall structure would leave a strong impression on visitors to Washington, D.C., and that 250 feet is the most logical height to mark the 250th anniversary.
Speaking to reporters that day about the arch's height, Trump said, "I want it to be the biggest of all," adding, "We are the biggest and most powerful nation."
If Trump gets his way, the Washington arch would be far taller than the 164-foot (about 50 meters) arch in Paris that he used as a model. It would also surpass the 220-foot (about 67 meters) Monument to the Revolution in Mexico City, the tallest arch-shaped monument in the world, potentially becoming the world's tallest triumphal arch.
However, some experts say that a massive structure at the site would obstruct the view of the Lincoln Memorial from Arlington National Cemetery and make Arlington House, a building within the cemetery, look like a dollhouse, raising concerns about the landscape.
Although Trump said in a recent media interview that he would like to start construction on the arch within two months, the WP reported that the chances of an early groundbreaking are slim, given that a final architectural plan has not been released. The construction costs are expected to be covered by donations that large companies, including Amazon, Google, and Lockheed Martin, gave to the White House.