Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LetMyPeopleVote

(176,289 posts)
39. Artist behind Trump's proposed arch blasts project: 'Build it in another part of town'
Sat Jan 31, 2026, 08:33 PM
13 hrs ago

This arch is horrible and should not be built on the national mall

Artist behind Trump’s proposed arch blasts project: ‘Build it in another part of town’

Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-01-31T17:00:15Z

https://www.rawstory.com/independence-arch/

President Donald Trump unveiled plans Friday for the construction of a large arch in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary, but on Saturday, the architect behind the project revealed that his recommendations went ignored by the White House, and went on to blast the project over its location and size.

“I don’t think an arch that large belongs there,” said Catesby Leigh, an art critic who pitched the idea of constructing an arch to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary to the White House last year, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

Dubbed the “Independence Arch,” the White House plans for the structure to stand 250 feet tall and be built across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. Its size and location, however, has “alarmed some architectural experts,” the Post reported, as it may obstruct pedestrian views of the Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.

“I would be very concerned about the scale,” said Calder Loth, a former senior architectural historian for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, speaking with the Post. “It would make Arlington House just look like a dollhouse – or you couldn’t see it all, with the arch blocking the view.”

Leigh’s first pitch to the White House was for a temporary 60-foot-tall arch to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary, but Trump instead decided to go bigger, and to construct a permanent fixture. Speaking with the Post, Leigh said that if Trump insists on a permanent, 250-foot-tall arch, it should instead be constructed elsewhere.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Just buy him an inflatable one. He likes inflatable things he can hump. twodogsbarking 23 hrs ago #1
That is the answer...A gold plated inflatable! maspaha 19 hrs ago #22
It gives me shivers... it's quite Nazi-like in its scope and appearance... I hate it. QueerDuck 23 hrs ago #2
Oh, FFS. Trump seems to be making up for a deficit in another department. Vinca 23 hrs ago #3
Well I want him to die. He doesn't deserve any monument unless it a receptance Autumn 23 hrs ago #4
Not a core duty of his office. So he won't win in court when the National Parks Service denies his Nazi project. ancianita 23 hrs ago #5
That spot is already a major Cluster F--k with traffic Historic NY 23 hrs ago #6
"Built to Trump's specifications" This has Stonehenge written all over it underpants 23 hrs ago #7
That had to be one of the funniest scenes! TY electric_blue68 19 hrs ago #23
Hopefully the napkin he draws the plans on... Chemical Bill 12 hrs ago #40
It's the the insanity of Caligula defacto7 22 hrs ago #8
Well put. orangecrush 19 hrs ago #30
He should instead build an ark, like Noah's, and sail off into the sunset IronLionZion 22 hrs ago #9
Ye Gods. I rarely if ever, wish bad stuff on people, but I'm ready to make an exception. Fla Dem 22 hrs ago #10
Trump's favorite arch is still McDonald's double one. cstanleytech 22 hrs ago #11
This must somehow be stopped. sinkingfeeling 22 hrs ago #12
Stopped graycampervan 19 hrs ago #26
It will stop orangecrush 19 hrs ago #31
He should build a 1,000-ft pyramid for himself and a smaller 500-ft pyramid for the sex worker dalton99a 22 hrs ago #13
It is hard/impossible to believe the asshole would call it simply the Independence Arch. cyndensco 22 hrs ago #14
The Gateway Arch in Saint Louis was built to commemorate the 150th anniversary FakeNoose 22 hrs ago #15
I love the Gateway Arch. My dad got to go up in it b4 it was officially opened because... electric_blue68 19 hrs ago #24
For anyone who has been to Paris, Trump's arch looks familiar. Lonestarblue 21 hrs ago #16
Thst was one of the things I didn't get to see when I visited. I did see most of what I wanted to, luckily! electric_blue68 19 hrs ago #25
Hitler planned to rebuild Berlin with gargantuan structures to commemorate his rule. flashman13 21 hrs ago #17
T...does not have an original thought! Nt Hope22 19 hrs ago #28
Including a Triumphal Arch he sketched himself as long ago as 1925 muriel_volestrangler 18 hrs ago #33
No. If someone could explain 100 meters to Trump, he would want his to be 120 meters. flashman13 17 hrs ago #34
Stop blowing OUR money! Bayard 21 hrs ago #18
Let them eat a chicken nugget, a piece of broccoli some other fuckin' thing. twodogsbarking 21 hrs ago #19
It will have a drive-up window and serve Senile Meals with lots of ketchup. twodogsbarking 21 hrs ago #20
As long as he's hanging from it by his neck duckworth969 20 hrs ago #21
What goes up, must come down!! Hope22 19 hrs ago #27
Of course he would. nt Euphoria 19 hrs ago #29
Does that sound like he has any intentions of leaving office? nt doc03 18 hrs ago #32
In honor of his penis. Turbineguy 17 hrs ago #35
Let him build it at Mango-Lardo... on his own dime. Talitha 17 hrs ago #36
The structure would tower over nearby memorials -- changing DC's skyline and blocking views of the Lincoln Memorial LetMyPeopleVote 15 hrs ago #37
Is he dead yet? Emile 15 hrs ago #38
Artist behind Trump's proposed arch blasts project: 'Build it in another part of town' LetMyPeopleVote 13 hrs ago #39
A compromise project. Marcuse 12 hrs ago #41
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Trump wants to build a 25...»Reply #39