Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Macron Says Paris Will Remain Paris Amid Trump Arch Plan
Donald Trump wants to build a very large arch in Washington, D.C. He says it would be bigger and better than Paris’s famous Arc de Triomphe.
French President Emmanuel Macron disagreed with that comparison.
Macron said Paris and its monument would keep their special place.
Trump’s arch is planned to be about 250 feet tall.
It would stand near important sites, including the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump has also said it could include military facilities.
Journalists have described the project as part of Trump’s effort to create a lasting mark on Washington.
Emmanuel Macron said Paris’s Arc de Triomphe could not be surpassed in legacy by Donald Trump’s proposed Washington monument.
Trump’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch would be built near Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C.
The structure is part of Trump’s plans for the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Trump has described the proposed arch as a potential military complex with space for drones, snipers, and ammunition storage.
Journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan reported that the project reflects Trump’s desire to leave a mark on Washington.
- Who
- French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump are the central figures.
- What
- Macron responded to Trump’s proposal for a large triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., and rejected the idea that it could surpass Paris’s Arc de Triomphe.
- When
- Macron discussed the proposal in an interview with ABC News anchor David Muir; the article does not provide the interview date.
- Where
- The proposed arch would be built near Arlington Memorial Bridge, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, in Washington, D.C.
- Why
- Trump’s proposal is part of his plans for the United States’ 250th anniversary and has been described as an effort to leave a mark on Washington.
Macron’s View
Trump’s View
Monumental legacy
Macron’s View
Macron said Paris’s Arc de Triomphe has a unique legacy and that such monuments are bigger than the individuals who create them.
Trump’s View
Trump has claimed that his proposed Washington arch would surpass the Paris monument “in every way.”
Purpose of the arch
Macron’s View
The proposal has prompted debate about how Trump’s plans could reshape Washington’s monumental landscape.
Trump’s View
Trump has presented the arch as part of the United States’ 250th-anniversary plans and said it could become a high-grade military complex.
Personal symbolism
Macron’s View
The reporting cited by the article presents the project as an example of concerns about personalizing Washington’s public monuments.
Trump’s View
According to Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan’s book, Trump answered “Me” when asked who the arch was for.
- Proposed height
- 250 feet
- Planned location
- Near Arlington Memorial Bridge, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery
- Stated purpose
- Part of plans for the United States’ 250th anniversary
- Proposed facilities
- Space for drones and snipers, plus ammunition storage
- Macron’s response
- “Paris will remain Paris and the Arc de Triomphe will remain the Arc de Triomphe”
- Reported White House nickname
- “Arc de Trump”