A scale model of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 259-foot Arc de Triomphe and surrounding area, including the Lincoln Memorial, is displayed on a table during a National Capital Planning Commission meeting in Washington, DC, USA on July 9, 2026.
Elizabeth Franz | Reuters
The National Park Service stands by the location and size of President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot Arc de Triomphe, despite knowing it would negatively impact historic buildings and landscapes around Washington.
“The selected Arc de Triomphe continues this historic lineage by reflecting the intended character of the site and introducing a focus to celebrate 250 years of American independence,” federal officials said in a report released Friday.
Trump first proposed the arch last year. It will be built at Memorial Circle, a roundabout near the main entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The arch has already drawn widespread opposition from lawmakers, conservationists and military veterans for its impact on Washington, D.C., the skyline and local traffic. The arch will be approximately 250 feet tall, more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial.
The National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to consider the effects of federal projects on historic properties.
The report identified negative impacts to dozens of historic buildings, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and other landmarks. The anticipated “adverse impacts” relate to changes to the landscape or skyline, rather than physical damage to property.
“While an alternative location may reduce or avoid the negative impacts associated with Memorial Circle, it would also separate the project from the specific historic planning precedent that provides the basis for the project’s location,” the report states.
Similarly, the agency said the proposed arch would form part of that line of sight through a central opening, while a smaller one would more completely block the historic view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Overall, the Park Service received more than 100,000 public comments during the initial consultation in June and an additional 6,254 public comments during the reopening period in July, according to the Park Service report.
