US Judge Halts Trump Project to Build 'Arc de Triomphe' in Washington

A U.S. federal judge on Thursday night halted a massive project to build an Arc de Triomphe-style arch in Washington, D.C., which had been sought by President Donald Trump, shortly after the project received approval from the National Capital Planning Commission.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the Trump administration to refrain from beginning construction of the arch for two weeks, a period during which the court will review appeals challenging the project’s legality.

Due to its massive scale, the arch would obstruct the view between the Lincoln Memorial, a historic landmark in Washington, and Arlington National Cemetery, which holds the remains of hundreds of thousands of American military personnel.

Vietnam War veterans filed a lawsuit against the construction of the monument.

The decision came shortly after the National Capital Planning Commission approved the project late Thursday by a vote of eight to four.

According to the project plans, the arch would stand more than 76 meters tall, significantly higher than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which inspired its design and stands approximately 50 meters tall.

This arch is one of several projects launched by Trump to beautify the U.S. capital and leave his personal imprint on it.

Other initiatives include a celebration hall under construction at the White House, a renovation project for the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, and a proposal to redevelop a historic golf course along the Potomac River.

Trump’s name was also added to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, named after the late president, before a judge ordered the removal of the name.