US President Donald Trump has presented a model for a triumphal arch in the capital Washington. According to media reports, at a fundraising dinner for the ballroom he was planning on the White House grounds, he presented plans for the construction of a monument similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. “It’s going to be really beautiful,” CNN quoted Trump as saying, “I think it’s going to be fantastic.”
According to reports, representatives from tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google and Microsoft were present at the event on Wednesday (local time). Trump showed them different sized models of a white arch with a golden angel on it. He likes the biggest one best, US media quoted him as saying.
Official plans not yet known
The reason for the construction is the 250th Independence Day of the United States on July 4, 2026. There are no official plans from the White House yet. It was initially unclear when exactly construction would begin and who would finance it.
Trump reportedly displayed the model for the arch, dubbed the “Arc de Trump” by US media, in the Oval Office before dinner on Wednesday. When a journalist asked who the building was for, he pointed to himself and replied: “For me.”
Donald Trump is redesigning the White House
Trump has the White House redesigned according to his wishes. He had the Oval Office polished up and now emphasizes the gold shine. In the rose garden, a lawn gave way to a flagstone seating area. The planned ballroom is to be built in the east wing of the building complex. According to the government, the hall will have space for 900 people and will cost around $200 million (around 172 million euros). Critics of the project accuse Trump of pomp and desire for recognition.
