ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — The Department of the Interior filed architectural renderings with the Commission of Fine Arts for a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch at Memorial Circle in Arlington, Virginia, with the commission set to review the plans next week. The proposed site sits in a traffic circle on the Virginia side of the Potomac River, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that his administration had officially filed the presentation and plans with the commission. "It's the only city in the world that's of great importance that doesn't have a triumphal arc. The one that people know mostly is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France," Trump said.

The renderings, prepared by Harrison Design, a Washington architecture firm, show a structure resembling France's Arc de Triomphe. The arch itself would stand 166 feet tall, with a winged Lady Liberty statue on top bringing the total height to 250 feet — more than twice as tall as the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial and roughly 30 feet taller than the Plaza de la Republica in Mexico City. Trump has said the arch will commemorate the country's 250th anniversary.

The plans show two 24-foot eagles flanking the Lady Liberty figure, four large golden lions at the base, and inscriptions reading "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice For All" on either side. Trump hopes to build the arch in the next few months. He displayed a model in the Oval Office and was seen on Monday carrying what appeared to be renderings at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle said the arch "will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today." Ingle added, "President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest Nation on earth — America — the glory it deserves."

Veterans and historians sued the Trump administration in February over the planned arch, arguing congressional approval is required for construction. The plaintiffs contended they would be negatively affected by increased traffic and by the loss of the unobstructed view between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. An attorney with Public Citizen Litigation Group, serving as counsel for the plaintiffs, said, "Construction of a commemorative arch in Memorial Circle without congressional authorization is unlawful."

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is requiring the administration to give the court 14 days' notice before beginning construction and ordered the National Park Service not to start work unless it first publishes a notice of authorization on the agency's planning and public comment website. The proposed site is situated along a flight path for nearby Reagan National Airport.

According to a National Endowment for the Humanities spending plan approved by the Office of Management and Budget in September, $2 million in special initiative funds and $13 million in matching funds are reserved for the arch. The White House has not disclosed an estimated total cost.