President Donald Trump said in an interview Wednesday that construction on the Arc de Triomphe, which he has long derided, is expected to begin “sometime in the next two months.”
That would bring the start date forward to July 4, 2026 — as the White House ramps up preparations for next year’s 250th anniversary.
“It hasn’t started yet. It’s going to start sometime in the next two months. It’s going to be great. Everybody loves it,” Trump told POLITICO in a phone interview from Mar-a-Lago. “They also like the ballroom. But they like the Arc de Triomphe.”
The proposed building, loosely modeled on the Victory in Europe Monument, is one of several high-profile projects Trump has personally backed as part of a sprawling half-century celebration expected to include national and local events across the country.
In recent months, the president has sometimes shown off models of the proposed arch. It is planned to be built next to the Lincoln Memorial, on the other side of the bridge leading to National Ceremony in Arlington.
Trump has positioned the project as a patriotic landmark commemorating American history and military service, even as critics have raised questions about cost, aesthetics and whether the administration has the authority to unilaterally move forward with such construction in Washington.
He also promoted the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House on June 14.
When asked who he wanted to fight at the White House UFC event, Trump deferred to UFC president and long-time ally Dana White. “Well, Dana is picking them. He’s the best fight picker, right?” Trump said. “He’s going to pick all the top fighters. All the championship matches are going to happen. I think it’s going to be the best ever. It’s really unbelievable.”
Trump said there could be “a lot of games, like 10,” suggesting the event would be a championship-level showcase rather than a single game.
In an interview with POLITICO last week, Trump discussed the Republican Party’s plans for the midterm elections, arguing that the election will depend on “pricing.” He also sees himself as the ultimate decision-maker on any peace deal in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
