This coming summer will mark 250 years since the United States of America declared its independence from England.

In a move which few saw coming, President Donald Trump recently announced that he has pulled the trigger on a monument to celebrate the occasion. 

Structure modeled Paris' Arc de Triomphe

According to The Washington Times, Trump revealed the news on Wednesday while speaking with individuals who have donated to the creation of a new White House ballroom.

The president took out a model of a triumphal arch that is to be constructed in Washington. The structure will feature a pair of eagles as well as Lady Liberty and is designed to mimic the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The structure is to be located across from the Lincoln Memorial over a traffic circle through which motorists travel when arriving from Virginia.

"That’s Arlington Memorial Bridge. … And at the end of it, you have a circle that was built 150 years ago," Trump explained to attendees at the White House event.

Prior plans thwarted by Civil War

"In fact, they put a couple of columns on each side. You have two columns on one side, two columns on the other, but yet, in the middle, just a circle," he noted.

"And everyone in the past had said something was supposed to be built there," the president continued. "That's true. But a thing called the Civil War interfered. That’s a good reason."

The Times pointed out that Trump provided no cost estimates regarding the proposed arch nor any timeline for its construction.

The outlet observed that concept pictures of the arch were photographed on the president's desk last week, and one was posted to social media by Harrison Design architect Nicolas Charbonneau.

Trump thanks donors for ballroom support

"A proposal for a triumphal arch in DC for [America 250], in the traffic circle in front of Arlington National Cemetery," he wrote before adding, "America needs a triumphal arch!"

A proposal for a triumphal arch in DC for #America250, in the traffic circle in front of Arlington National Cemetery. America needs a triumphal arch! pic.twitter.com/JjwSZsOE9z

— Nicolas Leo Charbonneau (@nic_charbonneau) September 4, 2025

In addition to touting the proposed arch, the president also talked up his planned 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom, which is expected to cost $200,000.

"For all those years, they wanted it, and now they’re going to get it, and because of you, they’re going to get it. And me too; we’re all in this together," the Times quoted him as telling donors.