President Donald Trump just keeps moving on to the next thing as he sets his sights on another Washington makeover. This time, the president is promising something bigger, grander, and more beautiful than one of Europe’s most recognizable landmarks. Though many would call it a distraction from the Republican midterm blowout. From a towering monument to a championship golf course, Trump has big plans for Washington, D.C. But a raging group of protesters, one emotional vet, and a lawsuit may stand in his way. Trump unveils plans for a sniper-equipped arch, a heroes garden and a championship golf course as legal battles threaten his Washington makeover. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) Trump’s proposed triumphal arch is near the Arlington Memorial Bridge. He claims the massive monument will double as a military installation, complete with drone capabilities and platforms that could accommodate snipers. Trump got the final approval he was looking for after desperately looking for a win. ‘Because He Didn’t Get His Way?’: Trump Turns Up the Heat on Judge Blocking His Plans With Violent Warning Trump’s Massive 250-Foot Victory Arch Has One Problem Nobody Saw Coming, and It Lands Right on Top of Over 75,000 Graves at Arlington National Cemetery Veterans’ groups and preservationists have challenged the monument in federal court, even after it received final approval. They showed up at the site where the monument will stand near the bridge connecting Washington, D.C., to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. People held large signs and wore shirts with powerful messages against Trump. Hours later, their hard work and weeks of objection seemed to mean nothing. The National Capital Planning Commission approved the 250-foot monument Thursday night around 10:29, according to CNN. The 8-4 vote followed a marathon public hearing where more than 100 people urged officials to block the project. Trump compared his vision to Paris’ famous Arc de Triomphe, although he repeatedly mispronounced the landmark’s name. “The most beautiful arc to me is the one in Paris. It’s called the Arctic triumph,” Trump said during his Nov. 2 remarks near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. He insisted his version would be approximately 20% larger and made with better materials. He also praised the monument’s potential military uses. “It’s going to have tremendous drone capability. I would say sniper or shooter capability,” Trump explained. “Its height, its platforms, its storage capacity is incredible.” However, according to The Washington Post, those military features were missing from the architectural plans submitted for the 250-foot monument. Instead, the renderings feature a gilded, winged Lady Liberty, golden eagles and observation decks. The newspaper also conducted a 3D analysis and found that the proposed arch could cast shadows over more than 75,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery on 284 days each year. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, a Democrat who was nominated by President Barack Obama, has imposed advance-notification requirements before the administration can begin construction or make certain changes to the site. At the protest before the hearing, North Virginia Rep. Don Beyer said, “This monumental abomination to one man’s ego disrespects every service member who’s buried there.” He accused Trump and the White House of trying to rush the project after the recent election loss, which led Democrats to take over the House and Senate vote. “No one in the administration can defend this or explain it. But we know why he’s trying to rush it through because he knows that the Congress we just elected two days ago will reassert his constitutional authority and stop him from pushing forward with this disgrace,” Beyer said. “Trump knows this arch is illegal and unauthorized.” County Board member J.D. Spain Sr., a. Vietnam vet who fought in 1967 at age 21, stepped to the mic with war stories. He filed a lawsuit against Trump to shut down the arch construction, which reportedly began after the meeting. He called out Trump for building the arch on sacred ground to the fallen soldiers, some of whom are his friends. “I have a duty as a Vietnam vet, as a survivor, to my buddies buried there, to honor their sacrifice and protect their memory from this vainglorious monument,” the former Army pilot said. On Threads, one commenter questioned the monument’s military purpose and, more so, wondered how this got approved. “But why? Who asked for this? This is disrespectful to soldiers who have fallen,” said one person. Another blasted, “Why does someone who dodged the draft with bogus medical records of bone spurs, want to be associated with a military cemetery?” “This lawsuit is so important!! This horrible arch cannot be allowed to be built. It would ruin the aesthetic of the mall and put Arlington in literal shadow!” said another person. Trump then turned his attention to the National Garden of American Heroes. “We’re actually forming lists right now to find out who’s gonna be there,” he said. The president promised between 250 and 500 statues on approximately 45 acres near the Potomac River. He also boasted that the sculptures would be created by some of the world’s greatest artists. Meanwhile, preservationists have raised questions about plans for West Potomac Park. The National Park Service has maintained that its proposed redesign of the area is separate from the Garden of Heroes. Then came another project that has already landed Trump in hot water with a federal judge. The president wants to transform East Potomac Golf Links into a championship course capable of hosting the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and Ryder Cup. Back on Threads, the president’s promises drew more skepticism. “Yeah, like that’s happening after the midterms,” one person wrote. Another declared, “You’re not going to do s—t.” Like many of his proposed projects, Trump’s gilded vision for Washington has drawn questions about whether the administration’s priorities reflect the concerns of everyday Americans. He maintains that the projects will bring beauty, prestige and world-class attractions to the nation’s capital. Others, however, see the developments as another collection of Trump-branded projects that have left critics questioning their purpose and legacy. But between the lawsuits, preservation concerns, and questions surrounding federal approvals, the president still has considerable work ahead before his ambitious plans become reality. View on Threads Trump’s 250-Foot Arch Clears Its Final Hurdle as Another Legal Battle Ensues to Stop Construction ...read more read less