Trump's 'Arc de Trump' closer to reality after design approval

US President Donald Trump's push to have an Arc de Triomphe-inspired arch in Washington DC took one step closer to being realised after a key agency approved a revised design of the structure.

Nicknamed the "Arc de Trump", it's the latest passion project in the president's efforts to remake the capital city in his style.

Here's what we know about the triumphal arch and why its proposed location has led to a federal lawsuit.

What will the arch look like?

The triumphal arch, which will be based on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, will stand at 250 feet (76 metres) and have an exterior made of granite.

For reference, the Arc de Triomphe is 50m tall.

It will feature a golden Lady Liberty-like figure flanked by two eagles.

Phrases "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice for All" would be inscribed in gold lettering atop either side of the monument.

An observation deck would provide 360-degree views of the surroundings.

In December, Mr Trump said the new arch "will be like the one in Paris, but to be honest with you, it blows it away in every way".

"The only thing they have is history … I always say [it's] the one thing you can't compete with, but eventually we'll have that history too."

The newly appointed design removes four gold lions that would have adorned the side of the arch along the base.

The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), which approved the revised design, said lions were "not native to the US".

CFA secretary Thomas Luebke said every one of the 1,000 public comments received about the arch argued against the project going ahead.

Why does Trump want it?

To mark America's 250th anniversary in July.

Mr Trump has argued in the past that Washington is the only major Western world capital that does not have an arch.

But building a new memorial typically takes years and would not be ready in time for the nation's birthday celebrations.

When Mr Trump displayed models of the proposed arch last October, a reporter asked him who it was for.

Trump replied: "Me. It's going to be beautiful."

Other famous arches around the world

From Roman emperors to Napoleon Bonaparte, triumphal arches have been used to commemorate foundational moments, pivotal leaders and military conquests and sacrifices.

Here are a few other countries with arches:

Mexico, Mexico City: Monumento a la Revolucion (67m)

North Korea, Pyongyang: Arch of Triumph (60m)

India, New Delhi: India Gate (42m)

Spain, Barcelona: Arc de Triomf (30m)

Italy, Rome: Arch of Constantine (21m)

Why its location is causing controversy

The arch is planned for the traffic circle between Arlington National Cemetery's entrance and the Lincoln Memorial.

The administration has said that the monument's position near the cemetery would serve 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".

But military veterans and a historian have argued it's not an appropriate site for the arch.

They have filed a federal lawsuit to block construction, citing concerns it would disrupt the experience of visiting Arlington National Cemetery and obstruct the "symbolic and inspiring view" from the cemetery to the Lincoln Memorial.

Critics also argue the arch's height would dominate the city's skyline, dwarfing other monuments like the Lincoln Memorial (30m).

The arch has also raised safety concerns, because of its potential to interfere with air traffic.

It would be located less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and could interfere with the flight path of southbound planes on their final approach.

According to documents obtained by CNN, the Department of Interior requested a formal aeronautical study from the Federal Aviation Administration to determine if the arch would be a hazard to flights.

How much will it cost?

No figure has been released yet.

According to a White House official, a mix of taxpayer and private money is expected to be used to pay for it.

Mr Trump said last year that the arch could be paid for with private donations left over from the ballroom project.

What next?

The project still needs to go through the National Capital Planning Commission, a separate federal agency that oversees construction on federal land, for approval.

A meeting has been scheduled for June 4.

While critics argue the project also needs Congressional approval, the Trump administration has said it plans to use a century-old authorisation to bypass permission.

Mr Trump told reporters on Thursday he did not need Congress to sign off on it.

"We're doing it, the land is owned … by the Interior Department, we don't need anything from Congress."

Preliminary surveys and testing of the arch site have already begun but it's not clear when construction will begin.

Trump's other passion projects

The 250-foot arch isn't the only project on the president's agenda in pursuit of leaving a lasting imprint on Washington.

The long list of other changes, which have drawn sharp criticism from Americans concerned about cost and the preservation of historic landmarks, include:

White House East Wing ballroom

sculpture garden of American Heroes along the Potomac river

changing the colour of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

renaming the Kennedy Centre to also include "Trump".

These redesign efforts are arguably the most dramatic by a US president since Theodore Roosevelt championed a structural overhaul of the National Mall in the early 1900s.

In the 1950s, Harry Truman gutted and rebuilt the White House.