Docs reveal Trump’s beloved arch construction could start weeks after Election Day amid lawsuit
Work could begin in November
The Justice Department told the court that the National Park Service could publish notice as early as November 5, 2026, and construction could start that day. The filing comes while a federal judge weighs whether to stop the project in response to a lawsuit.
Plans for Memorial Circle
The arch is planned for Memorial Circle, across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. Its design echoes Paris’s Arc de Triomphe and includes gilded statues and an observation deck.
Plans show the words “One nation under God” on the white stone facade. At 250 feet, the structure would be taller than the U.S. Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and the Arc de Triomphe.
Lawsuits and public opposition
The proposal has faced debate since Trump unveiled it last October. Several lawsuits seek to block construction, including one filed by a group of Vietnam veterans. An April Ipsos survey found that 52 percent of Americans opposed the arch, compared with 21 percent who favored it.
Key points
- Court documents say construction could begin as early as November 5, 2026.
- The planned 250-foot arch would stand in Memorial Circle across the Potomac from the Lincoln Memorial.
- Lawsuits challenge the project, citing congressional approval and views of Arlington National Cemetery.
- An April Ipsos survey found 52 percent opposed the arch and 21 percent favored it.