A group of U.S. veterans is taking legal action against Donald Trump over plans to build a massive “Triumphal Arch” in Washington, D.C.
The monument is intended to mark America’s upcoming 250th anniversary. Standing at 250 feet tall, the structure would be built at the entrance to Arlington Memorial Bridge, directly across from the Lincoln Memorial. If completed, it would become the tallest triumphal arch in the world – roughly twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial.
Trump previously defended the idea, saying: “Every time somebody rides over that beautiful bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, they literally say something is supposed to be here,” according to Tyla.
But not everyone agrees. A group of Vietnam War veterans has now filed a lawsuit, arguing the monument would obstruct the view of Arlington National Cemetery, where more than 400,000 U.S. service members are buried.
‘Arc de Trump’
According to NBC News, early design plans for the arch were approved on April 16 by the Commission of Fine Arts, a panel whose members were reportedly selected by Trump. Critics have said the process itself is part of the problem.
U.S. Army veteran Michael Lemmon, the lead plaintiff in the case, said in a statement: “The president’s planned arch will be a continuous visual affront to this principle and a personal affront to people, like me, who have fought for this Nation and devoted their careers to serving it,” according to Tyla.
Another Vietnam veteran, Jon Gunderson, said in an interview with CNN that the project was “a monument to a man,” adding: “What we wanted is something that honoured America, the 250th anniversary of our country. We wanted it to honour veterans.
“But what we saw was three times the size of the Lincoln Memorial, bigger than the Arc de Triomphe.
“If you go to Arlington National Cemetery, where all of our former veterans are buried, and you look at that sweep, and you see the Washington monument and Lincoln memorial, it’s sacred ground.
“These monuments in Arlington and Vietnam, they honour the common soldier. They don’t honour a man; they don’t honour a general on horseback, they honour the country.”
“It’s a monument to a man”
Gunderson also criticized how the project was handled, saying: “We didn’t want some vain, glorious attempt to do this. We don’t approve that, of any certain arch, or anything like that. We just wanted a process; we wanted Congress to review it, the stakeholders to take a look at it, and the veterans to get a chance to look at it.
“You’re going to see this massive 250-foot structure obscuring the view of the whole city. These iconic things that have all gone through congressional review have been bipartisan support.
“And here you have this large thing that’s not a monument to a country or to veterans. It’s a monument to a man, and having been in a totalitarian society where we don’t have the rule of law, we have a single person making decisions.”
The White House is pushing back on the criticism
For Gunderson and others involved in the lawsuit, the concern is also about legacy.
“It shouldn’t be a monument that’s just there for one president’s term. It should be a monument that kids come and see in many generations,” he said.
The White House, however, is pushing back on the criticism.
Spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement: “There is nothing controversial about celebrating America’s 250th anniversary and building a glorious structure to celebrate the Triumphs of the American people.
“The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world.
“It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving 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.”
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