General Discussion

allegorical oracle

(5,973 posts) Wed Nov 5, 2025, 03:36 PM Nov 5

Plans afoot for the great, grand arch de drumpf

The price tag of President Donald Trump’s planned victory arch has been revealed — and it has eight zeroes, according to a new report.

The proposed monument, which is set to be built in the lead-up to the country’s 250th anniversary next year, is estimated to cost $100 million, according to Axios, citing unnamed White House insiders.

snip

The report did not say how the massive undertaking will be financed, though sources noted that Trump has raised $1.9 billion from private donors to help pad his war chest and pay for various construction projects, including his ballroom, which led to the demolition of the East Wing.

snip

It’s not clear whether the official process for building new monuments — which involves congressional authorization — is being followed. The apparent target completion date of July 2026 indicates Trump may go around the usual procedures.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/price-tag-of-trump-s-planned-victory-arch-for-dc-is-revealed/ar-AA1PSdMR

13 replies

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Highlight:

Plans afoot for the great, grand arch de drumpf (Original Post) allegorical oracle Nov 5 OP

Wait ... NOT The Onion? AZJonnie Nov 5 #1

Who will be his throne bearers when he is the first traverser through the arch? John1956PA Nov 5 #2

It will be an open topped vintage 1940's German automobile Layzeebeaver Nov 5 #4

If it's fully built in 6months... Layzeebeaver Nov 5 #3

Exactly. Only by utterly bypassing the proper processes can it even START by January. maxsolomon Nov 5 #6

What do you do? electric_blue68 Nov 5 #7

Architect maxsolomon Nov 5 #8

Got it. I love architecture! Went to Cooper Union school of Art & Architecture. electric_blue68 Nov 5 #12

What congress? MerryBlooms Nov 5 #5

This thing would take five years (at least) to be built properly ITAL Nov 5 #9

He doesn't need approvals. bif Nov 5 #10

Didn't I say as much ITAL Nov 5 #11

We're already under 9 months on November 5th. maxsolomon Nov 5 #13

AZJonnie

(2,249 posts)

1. Wait ... NOT The Onion?

Reply to allegorical oracle (Original post)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 03:38 PM

Nov 5

Mind =

John1956PA

(4,611 posts)

2. Who will be his throne bearers when he is the first traverser through the arch?

Reply to allegorical oracle (Original post)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 03:44 PM

Nov 5

Layzeebeaver

(2,135 posts)

4. It will be an open topped vintage 1940's German automobile

Reply to John1956PA (Reply #2)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 03:52 PM

Nov 5

The throne bearers already exist.

ICE

Layzeebeaver

(2,135 posts)

3. If it's fully built in 6months...

Reply to allegorical oracle (Original post)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 03:50 PM

Nov 5

Then it’s basically wood, drywall and staples with fake marble shower panels

Actually, I think that would be perfect. Let it start to rot during and after construction.

maxsolomon

(37,807 posts)

6. Exactly. Only by utterly bypassing the proper processes can it even START by January.

Reply to Layzeebeaver (Reply #3)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 04:27 PM

Nov 5

Properly built, it would be a steel structure with a carved stone veneer. It needs elevators, stairs, an observation deck, and there's a fucking multi-story giant gold Winged Victory planned for top. Think about the wind forces on that cantilever transferring down into the arch.

Are there any design documents complete? Who's the Structural? Who's the General Contractor?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7e8lv176go :

On Saturday, Trump posted an illustration of a plan designed by Harrison Design architect Nicolas Leo Charbonneau on Truth Social.

Charbonneau, a partner at Harrison Design, posted a watercolour rendering of the proposal on social media on 4 September, writing: "America needs a triumphal arch!"

https://harrisondesign.com/profile/people

Who's the sculptor? Where's that sculpture going to be fabricated? It took one of my recent projects 9 months to get a 2-story stainless steel sculpture made and shipped from Shanghai.

On edit: I don't think it's going to have an Observation Deck, so no elevator. Probably 2 stairs, though.

electric_blue68

(24,854 posts)

7. What do you do?

Reply to maxsolomon (Reply #6)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 04:59 PM

Nov 5

maxsolomon

(37,807 posts)

8. Architect

Reply to electric_blue68 (Reply #7)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 05:01 PM

Nov 5

"One of my recent projects" means it was a project by the firm I work at.

electric_blue68

(24,854 posts)

12. Got it. I love architecture! Went to Cooper Union school of Art & Architecture.

Reply to maxsolomon (Reply #8)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 05:40 PM

Nov 5

Back in the pre-computer days. No CAD etc. I'd hangout with my art student friends, and some of the architect students.

Looked on and off at architecture magazines. My dad sometimes got them, and lots of stuff pops up on my Google feed.

Living in NYC is treasure trove of styles.

MerryBlooms

(12,106 posts)

5. What congress?

Reply to allegorical oracle (Original post)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 03:54 PM

Nov 5

Squeaker Johnson's?
New NO KING MARCH!! BURN IT DOWN!!!

ITAL

(1,228 posts)

9. This thing would take five years (at least) to be built properly

Reply to allegorical oracle (Original post)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 05:05 PM

Nov 5

I'm not even really talking about the various approvals that would also be involved (which he's obviously not getting, but which likely take another five to ten years). An arch in the way he's talking about would be massive undertaking with the stone work, etc.. This will be shoddy as hell if he wants it done in 9 months.

bif

(26,456 posts)

10. He doesn't need approvals.

Reply to ITAL (Reply #9)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 05:25 PM

Nov 5

For anything. That's obvious by what he's done to the East Wing.

ITAL

(1,228 posts)

11. Didn't I say as much

Reply to bif (Reply #10)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 05:30 PM

Nov 5

I wasn't even taking approvals into consideration. I was speaking purely about the stone work etc.

maxsolomon

(37,807 posts)

13. We're already under 9 months on November 5th.

Reply to ITAL (Reply #9)

Wed Nov 5, 2025, 06:26 PM

Nov 5

If they're going to have any chance, they'd better start excavating and shoring this month. I doubt they've selected a General Contractor yet.

The Fedrul Gubmint can self-permit projects in DC. The municipal government of DC has no authority on Federal Property, apparently.

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