President Donald Trump's hand-picked arts commission has cleared the way for his ambitious building spree, approving plans for a massive 250-foot-tall triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. Critics warn the structure would dwarf its surroundings and fundamentally alter a meticulously preserved skyline. Trump has stated that the arch, intended to commemorate America's 250th anniversary, would also celebrate himself.
Commission's Approval and Context
On Thursday, the Commission of Fine Arts voted to sign off on Trump's plans. This decision marks another rubber stamp from a group eager to allow Trump to remodel the nation's capital as he sees fit. Earlier this year, the commission also approved Trump's proposal for a new ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House and a commemorative gold coin bearing the president's scowling face. The panel's eagerness is unsurprising, as all seven members were appointed by Trump earlier this year. The committee's vice-chair, James McCrery II, was the original architect for Trump's ballroom, while another member, Chamberlain Harris, currently works in the White House.
Legal and Regulatory Hurdles
The arch still needs to clear an additional Trump-friendly committee, which should not pose an obstacle. However, the Trump administration is facing a lawsuit from a group of Vietnam veterans seeking to stop the project. The lawsuit argues that the arch, which would be built on National Park Service land, requires congressional approval. The administration contends that it can rely on a 1924 report to authorize the arch without going back to Congress in the present day.
Broader Implications
Projects like the arch and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — now being repainted with help from a Trump golf club manager — may seem secondary compared to Trump's flagrant public graft and wars of choice. Yet they are all part of the same narrative: a president and administration growing increasingly uninterested in public opinion. The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps readers stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over their lives, reported this story. The newsletter will be off for the long weekend but returns on Tuesday. In other news, scientists are making real progress toward treating pancreatic cancer after decades of failures, as reported by colleague Dylan Scott.
