Trump's 'Triumphal Arch' Plan Met With Shock—Even From Its Original Designer

A proposal to build a massive "triumphal arch" for former U.S. President Donald Trump is facing strong criticism. Notably, one critic is the very expert who first suggested the idea. The current design, promoted by Trump's political action committee, is for a structure roughly 250 feet tall. This is four times larger than the original concept. The original idea came from a 2021 academic paper. In it, a historian suggested a 70-foot arch to honor all U.S. presidents. He described it as a potential site for reflection, not a monument to one person. The historian now says the scaled-up version is "excessive" and seems designed for one leader. He argues this goes against American democratic tradition. The story of how the arch grew in size follows a familiar pattern. Trump often takes suggestions and expands them into much grander, personal projects. His committee has not commented on the backlash. The proposed arch remains just an idea. It has no official approval, funding, or construction site.