On November 5th local time, a federal district judge in the United States issued a temporary restraining order for 14 days, preventing U.S. President Donald Trump from beginning construction of the “Triumph Gate” in Washington, D.C. Less than an hour before this ruling was announced, Trump’s “Triumph Gate” plan had just been approved.
The National Capital Planning Commission is one of the federal agencies responsible for overseeing the construction and design changes in Washington D.C. On the 5th, the agency held a hearing that lasted over eight hours. Eventually, around 22:29 local time on the 5th, the commission approved the Trump administration’s plan to build the “Arc de Triomphe” with an outcome of 8 votes in favor and 4 votes against.
But less than an hour later, U.S. Federal District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a ruling requiring that within 14 days from the date of the ruling, the Trump administration must not initiate, carry out, or otherwise implement any construction, excavation, demolition, land disturbance, utility installation, or road closure activities in Washington’s Memorial Circle or its vicinity, or any other construction activities related to the building of the archway on Memorial Circle.
She explained in a memo that this was done to prevent potential economic impacts and traffic delays caused by construction.
In October last year, Trump displayed a model of the Arc de Triomphe at a dinner at the White House, Reuters
In October last year, Trump announced that a giant arch would be built near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. The design plan revealed that this proposed “Triumph Arch” would be 250 feet tall and would be located on the Memorial Circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
After the plan was announced, it immediately sparked widespread controversy. Opponents argued that the project was a complete waste of money, and the construction of giant arches on the memorial roundabout could lead to traffic congestion and damage to the view of historic landscapes.
To find more reasons for the 'Arc de Triomphe' project, Trump claimed in September that the Arc de Triomphe would be transformed into a 'top-tier military complex' equipped with snipers and drone storage facilities. However, the final proposal submitted by the Trump administration to the National Capital Planning Commission did not include any such military structures.
Trump has set a tight timeline for the project. He once stated that the goal is to complete the construction of the Arc de Triomphe before the end of his presidency.
American CNN reported that as the Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat in the mid-term elections, the White House was eager to advance the “Arc de Triomphe” project before the new U.S. Congress, which is controlled by Democrats and will take office in January next year. However, several civil groups, including veterans and preservationists, have filed lawsuits against this project, meaning Trump’s plans may continue to face obstacles.
