It Looks Like Trump's Tacky Monument To Himself In DC May Become A Reality—And People Are Truly Disgusted

Critics pounced on President Donald Trump's latest vanity project after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that excavation will begin for an enormous arch that will bear Trump's name.

Trump has given significant attention to White House renovations and other pet projects around Washington, D.C., since returning to office. Trump's White House renovations have already cost nearly $1 billion, according to one analysis.

Despite widespread concerns about the high cost of living and that these renovations are not just in poor taste but a waste of taxpayer funds, Trump has claimed that affordability "doesn't mean a thing to anybody." He went on to accuse Democrats of crafting a “fake narrative” and “con job” to trick the American people into not voting for Republicans.

Now construction of the proposed arch is moving ahead despite several unresolved legal and regulatory issues, with Burgum writing the following on X:

"We are pleased to announce that after a very long wait (over 125 years!), we are preparing to start, over the next two-week period, the excavation work necessary for the Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck, at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery."

"This will be one of the Great Pieces of American Architecture, honoring the history and significance of Arlington Cemetery and befitting the most powerful Capital in the World."

You can see what he wrote as well as an artistic rendering of the arch in his post below.

@SecretaryBurgum/X

In a follow-up post, Burgum said the site "remains today a barren traffic circle":

"Despite Congress’s intent, the site became and remains today a barren traffic circle lacking any monumental treatment and significant historic value. In fact, the passage extending from Arlington Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery was meant to serve as an Avenue of Heroes."

You can see his post below.

Burgum later concluded:

"Over 70 major cities/capitals around the world, from London, Paris and Rome to Madrid, Athens and New Delhi, all showcase beautiful arches. Interestingly, Washington, DC, is the only major Western capital without an arch."

"Now after 125 years of waiting, the most powerful capital in the world will be home of the most spectacular and beautiful arch of them all!"

You can see his post below.

People are disgusted by the tone-deafness of it all.

Burgum's announcement came despite the fact that a lawsuit seeks to halt the project, while critics argue that it requires congressional authorization and has yet to receive final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. A required historic-preservation review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act also remains outstanding.

The lawsuit includes veterans who argue that the structure would interfere with the historic view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, including Arlington House, the former Robert E. Lee memorial.

The Justice Department has asked the court to dismiss the case, citing a recent Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for construction of the Trump administration’s East Wing ballroom to proceed.

The National Capital Planning Commission, one of two major federal bodies responsible for reviewing significant changes to government property in Washington, has so far issued only preliminary approval. The commission’s next opportunity to consider final approval is its October 1 monthly meeting.

The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting a separate review because the proposed arch would stand less than two miles from a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

An initial FAA assessment found that the structure would not threaten air safety but recommended installing red obstruction lights to make it more visible to aircraft. Under FAA rules, structures taller than 200 feet that could potentially affect navigable airspace must undergo an aviation review.