Trump triumphal arch excavation could begin within two weeks, interior minister says

Excavation for President Donald Trump’s planned 75-meter triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., could begin within the next two weeks, U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on X.

Construction plans published in June place the monument in a traffic circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery. The project has faced strong criticism from people who say the arch would overshadow other iconic buildings around the U.S. capital.

The announcement came days after the Supreme Court allowed construction of Trump’s White House ballroom to continue. Critics say the ballroom may be unlawful because Congress did not approve it, and argue that the same issue applies to the triumphal arch.

Burgum dismissed those concerns, writing on X: “Despite Congress’s intentions, the site remains and will remain a barren traffic circle without monumental treatment and significant historical value.” A model of the proposed arch had been displayed in Washington during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in July.

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Despite Congress’s intentions, the site remains and will remain a barren traffic circle without monumental treatment and significant historical value.