Trump Announces Plans for New Arch Near Lincoln Memorial

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump announced on Oct. 15 that he is building an arch near Washington’s Lincoln Memorial.

Trump revealed the plans at a dinner with donors who supported the costs of the White House’s new ballroom. He said the arch will be built at Arlington Memorial Bridge, which connects Washington to northern Virginia.

“At the end of [the bridge], you have a circle that was built 150 years ago. You have two columns on one side, two columns on the other, yet in the middle, just a circle. And everyone in the past had said something was supposed to be built there. But a thing called the Civil War interfered,” he said.

“It’s going to be really beautiful. I think it’s going to be fantastic. There’s a rendering of what it will look like. You have three sizes.

“Whichever one would look good. I happen to think the large one.”

Earlier in the Oval Office, CBS News White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe noticed a small model of the arc on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.

As reporters were leaving the Oval Office following an unrelated press conference, O’Keefe asked about the 3-D model on the desk.

“What is this, Mr. President?” he asked.

Trump said, “It’s going to be built—an arch.”

O’Keefe asked, “For who?”

Trump said, “Take a look at the location.”

O’Keefe said, “Yeah, no, I know where it is, but who is it for?”

Trump said, “Me. Going to be beautiful.”

There are no further details of the project, such as the cost, how long construction will take, or whether the city has approved the plan.

The White House declined to comment. The Epoch Times has reached out to the District of Columbia Council for comment.

This is not the only project Trump is building in Washington.

The White House has been constructing a $250 million ballroom to accommodate people for larger events.

“For 150 years, presidents, administrations, and White House staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing in July.

“President Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future administrations and the American people.”

Trump said during the dinner with donors that the ballroom has been fully funded and that there is additional funding that might be allocated toward the arc.

The ballroom—which will not be connected to the White House but will be where the East Wing is situated—will be 90,000 square feet and be able to seat 650 people. The East Room, where many White House social events are hosted, has a capacity of just 200 people.

Trump also remodeled the Rose Garden into an outdoor patio club.