Donald Trump's triumphal arch: Arlington County sues against planned monument

The Arlington County Council in Virginia has filed a lawsuit against the construction of the triumphal arch desired by Donald Trump. This is the first state authority to take legal action against the planned monument.

Construction of the 250-foot-tall arch, to be built near Arlington National Cemetery on an axis with the iconic Lincoln Memorial across the Potomac River, could be approved as early as next month.

Bright white, golden figures and a military complex

The planned triumphal arch is considered Trump's prestige project and represents a personality cult that the US government is creating around the 80-year-old. A structure almost three times as high as the Brandenburg Gate and one and a half times as high as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Alluding to this, US media refer to it as the “Arc de Trump”.

Arlington fears traffic problems and aircraft noise

The Arlington County community has criticized the project's rapid move forward for not going through full review processes. The lawsuit expresses fears that the arch could cause “significant harm” to residents and even impact public safety. In the already busy traffic corridor, the traffic arteries needed for emergency services would be blocked.

Another concern is the likely change in flight paths. "There is a risk of an increase in noise and air pollution in Arlington as certain flights must be rerouted to and from Reagan National Airport," the lawsuit says. The White House and the Interior Department did not immediately comment.

There are already special rules

The proposed arc would be located within the airport's main approach and departure corridors. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety regulations require the arch to be marked with a flame at the top of the structure and floodlights to make it visible to pilots. Some aviation experts have raised safety concerns given its proximity to the airport's main arrival and departure corridor.

The FAA had repealed a previous requirement for red obstacle lights. It typically requires this for buildings taller than 200 feet (approx. 61 m) near airports, such as the nearby 169-meter-tall Washington Monument.

The arc is part of Trump's broader effort to reshape Washington. This also includes the renovation of the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial and the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center. Read more about this here.