Trump's victory arch would disrupt the Washington skyline, according to a report

Washington – The victory arch, 76 meters high, which is being promoted by American President Donald Trump, would alter the skyline of Washington to such an extent that it would disrupt the views from dozens of monuments in the metropolis. Today, this is reported by The New York Times (NYT) citing a new assessment from the National Park Service (NPS).

The arch would, for example, disrupt the symbolic connection between the Lincoln Memorial and the national cemetery at Arlington. It would overshadow the views from the grave of President John F. Kennedy, from General Robert Lee's house, and would change the view from the National Cathedral, which official documents describe as "one of the grandest in Washington."

The impact assessment of the construction of the arch on surrounding historical buildings and lands is a key condition that the Trump administration must fulfill before final approval of the proposal by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). This could happen at its next meeting on September 3.

The NPS is tasked with finding ways to mitigate such "negative impacts" on historical monuments in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act. However, the plan is expected to be pushed through with little change given that Trump shows no interest in reducing the size of the arch or relocating its construction to another site.

The planned construction site is the roundabout Memorial Circle, directly opposite the Lincoln Memorial across the Potomac River. The Lincoln Memorial, which measures 30 meters, would be overshadowed more than twice by the arch. The height of the planned construction exceeds the height limits in the capital. It would therefore be visible from numerous significant locations in Washington and would change the character of these sites, writes NYT.

"These adverse impacts are intentional and are a direct result of the arch's design – its purpose is to dominate the surrounding landscape," wrote Roger Kirchen, a Virginia state historic preservation officer, in a letter to the NPS in June after the NPS began its assessment.

The designs call for the arch to be colored ivory, inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus, and reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The proposal includes gold decorative elements, including an 18-meter-tall statue at the top resembling the Statue of Liberty with angelic wings. It will have two eagle statues on the sides.

The arch is also to feature two excerpts from the American Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and the United States, namely One Nation Under God and Liberty and Justice for All.