Trump Is Missing the Entire Point of Arches

The recent approval by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts of President Trump’s proposed arch across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. has sparked a mix of emotions among historians, artists, and citizens alike. Beneath this controversy lies a fascinating – and largely forgotten – history that speaks to the heart of American republicanism.

From the earliest days of America’s founding, arches have played a significant role in shaping the nation’s visual identity and ideological landscape. George Washington’s welcome in Philadelphia in 1789 was marked by an arch of laurels and evergreens, linking the new North American nation to classical Europe’s republican ideals. Over time, artists used arches to celebrate U.S. republicanism while issuing warnings against qualities that Trump’s proposed monument would embody.

Trump’s arch would dwarf its neighbors, standing 250 feet tall with gold details and a winged figure – in stark contrast to the modest scale of the Lincoln Memorial or the White House. Its placement near Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial is noteworthy, as it creates a sight line that draws attention away from the nation’s capital towards the Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s home.

The striking aspect of Trump’s arch is not just its size or placement – but its deliberate disregard for the historical relationship between arches and U.S. republicanism. Republicanism, as understood by America’s founders, emphasized the right to choose one’s leaders and prioritized the common good over individual gain. This was a radical departure from European systems where monarchs and autocrats held sway.

Thomas Cole’s 1846 painting “The Arch of Nero” takes on new significance in this context. Cole’s work was not just a tribute to the ancient Roman arch – but also a warning about the corruption of American republicanism by plutocracy and autocratic power. The painting depicts an arch in decay, with plants growing through its walls and across its top. This image is a powerful metaphor for the gradual undermining of republican values by individualism and self-interest.

Cole’s words are particularly relevant today: “The plants will continue to grow, their root systems will advance into the arch, and they will eventually cause it to disintegrate – a gradual undermining after a period of failed vigilance.” This warning resonates strongly in light of Trump’s own words – “It’s for me” – which reveal his complete disregard for the public good.

The controversy surrounding Trump’s arch raises important questions about the role of architecture in shaping our national identity and ideology. As we move forward, it is essential to remember that America’s architectural heritage reflects not just grand monuments or symbolic gestures – but also our values and ideals.

As the National Capital Planning Commission prepares to review Trump’s proposal in June, citizens would do well to recall Cole’s warning. We have a choice: to allow Trump’s tower of hubris to stand as a testament to individual glory, or to reclaim our republicanism and its ideals. The fate of America’s arches – and our democracy itself – hangs in the balance.

The battle over Trump’s proposed arch is not just about aesthetics or architecture – but about what kind of nation we want to be. As Cole illustrated nearly two centuries ago, a republic that fails to prioritize its citizenry and the common good will eventually succumb to the corrosive forces of plutocracy and autocratic power.

Let us hope that as this controversy unfolds, we remember the forgotten history behind America’s arches – and choose a different path. One that honors our founding ideals rather than perpetuating the very excesses and corruptions they were meant to warn against.