Trump to move forward with planned arch project despite legal action

Construction of a massive arch in Washington proposed by US president Donald Trump could move ahead despite ongoing legal action, with a recent court filing saying work could begin in two weeks.

The proposed giant structure along the Potomac River near Arlington National Cemetery is part of Trump’s drive to put his personal stamp on the US capital.

In a Wednesday court filing, the Trump administration said “construction could commence as early as Nov 5,” the same day the commission aligned with Trump is set to vote on approving the project’s proposed site and building plans.

The planned 76m triumphal white arch – dwarfing the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, its inspiration – would also feature gold statues of an angel and eagles at the top.

The project’s height would interrupt the sight lines between the Lincoln Memorial, one of Washington’s iconic landmarks, and Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of American servicemembers.

In September, US district judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the Trump administration “provide the court with 48 hours’ notice before engaging in any activity” on the site “related to or in preparation for the construction of an arch.”

The lawsuit against the project was filed in February by Vietnam War veterans, who argued that such a massive undertaking requires approval by Congress.

Since returning to office in 2025, Trump – a former real estate mogul – has launched a series of renovation projects, several of which have prompted legal disputes.

They include a massive, costly ballroom being built at the White House, for which Trump had an entire wing of the presidential mansion demolished, and the Kennedy Center performance venue, which the president threatened to demolish unless his name was displayed on it.

The most recent instance of this involves the East Potomac Golf Links, a historic golf course Trump wishes to redesign but has faced legal setbacks after hundreds of trees were cut down for the project.