The Commission of Fine Arts has given the green light to President Trump’s ambitious plan to construct a Triumphal Arch in Washington, D.C. This monumental structure, standing at 250 feet tall, will be adorned with eagles and crowned with a statue of Lady Liberty. It is designed to celebrate America’s 250th birthday this July, serving as a testament to American exceptionalism.

Reviving Classical Architecture

This project is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to revive classical architecture in federal buildings. Last summer, President Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again,’ which directs the General Services Administration to ensure new federal buildings uplift and beautify public spaces. The Triumphal Arch is the latest expression of this movement, aiming to reclaim beauty as a civic value.

Critics, including some elite publications, have dismissed the arch as gaudy or authoritarian. However, many Americans see beauty in public spaces as a crucial part of their republican inheritance and tradition. The design of the Triumphal Arch complements the classical architecture of iconic structures like the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial.

Contrasting Modernist Architecture

In contrast, the Trump administration seeks to replace the modernist architecture that currently dominates parts of Washington, D.C. Buildings like the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building and the Hubert Humphrey Building are often criticized for their brutalist designs, which some argue lower expectations about government and make citizens feel small.

The Triumphal Arch aims to reverse this message, asserting that America is great and unashamed to show it. Senator Jim Banks, who supports the project, has introduced the Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act to codify these architectural principles into law, ensuring that classical buildings like the Triumphal Arch are constructed across the country.

Senator Banks recalls the inspiration he felt from the Whitley County Courthouse in his hometown of Columbia City, Indiana. He believes that beautiful architecture should be accessible to all Americans, not just residents of Washington, D.C. The Triumphal Arch and similar projects aim to inspire and uplift communities nationwide.

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