New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Monday shared an image of New Delhi’s iconic India Gate on his Truth Social platform in relation to his plans of constructing what he calls the world’s “greatest” triumphal arch in Washington, DC.
Accompanying the picture Trump wrote, “India’s beautiful triumphal arch, ours will be greatest of all.” The proposed structure is tentatively being called the “Independence Arch” and is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Trump’s architectural masterplan
According to The Washington Post, US President Donald Trump is particularly intent on constructing a 250-foot-tall arch overlooking the Potomac River. Citing two people familiar with the discussions, the newspaper reported that the monument would be built to Trump’s specifications.
The proposed site for this construction lies between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. The structure, if completed as it is currently being planned, would dramatically alter the landscape of the area. Reports suggest that it can virtually reshape the visual relationship between the two historic landmarks and affect pedestrian sightlines in the area.
In relation to plans for these structures, President Trump mentioned India Gate, the iconic war memorial in New Delhi, as “beautiful.” He further suggested the US version should surpass all others such structures. The India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and stands tall at 42 metres in the heart of the country’s capital city. It commemorates more than 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives during World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War, and is one of the country’s most recognisable landmarks.
US President Donald Trump is intent on revamping the White House and other areas of DC according to his specifications. He started his architectural advent in a major way by announcing the construction of a new ballroom in the White House. The construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom that will essentially reshape the historic White House attracted criticism for its speed, limited transparency and shifting specifications.
In case of the planned arch, reports also cite Paris’s Arc de Triomphe as an influence on the concept. The proposed structure could be 250 feet tall, which would make it taller than the Lincoln Memorial and White House. Speaking earlier to POLITICO, Trump said construction could begin within the next two months. “It hasn’t started yet. It starts sometime in the next two months. It’ll be great. Everyone loves it,” Trump told the publication. He added, “They love the ballroom too. But they love the Triumphal Arch.”