A loosely circular driveway sweeps through the White House grounds, just below the beloved South Portico of the mansion. Trump is the most significant threat to the city’s architectural and design legacy since British forces burned the Capitol and White House during the War of 1812. He has already demolished the East Wing of the White House, which dates to the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He wants to build a 250-foot-tall memorial arch near the most hallowed ground in the country, Arlington National Cemetery. Rather, you need to take into account the context of the White House grounds and the surrounding federal buildings.

Source: Washington Post March 23, 2026 15:02 UTC