Don’t Let Ego Redefine America’s Monuments

Recent signers:
Kelly Shannon and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Update: A new legal challenge has been filed to stop the proposed "Arc de Trump"

A new legal challenge has been filed to stop the proposed monument.

Lawmakers and veterans are now asking a federal court to block the project, arguing it cannot move forward without approval from Congress under existing law.

This reinforces a key concern behind this petition: decisions that reshape our nation’s most important public spaces must follow proper process and oversight.

As this case moves forward, public voices remain critical.

If you believe our national landmarks should be protected and decisions like this should follow the law, please continue sharing and supporting this petition.

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America’s monuments are meant to honor shared history, sacrifice, and democratic values. They are not meant to serve as personal branding projects or symbols of individual power.

President Trump has announced plans for a massive “Independence Arch” in Washington, D.C., reportedly envisioned at up to 250 feet tall. If built, it would tower over some of the nation’s most revered landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial and the White House itself. The proposal comes ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary and has been framed by the White House as a bold expression of national pride.

But size alone does not equal meaning.

Architects, historians, and preservation experts have warned that a structure of this scale could permanently disrupt Washington’s carefully planned historic landscape. The nation’s capital was deliberately designed with balance, restraint, and symbolism in mind. Its monuments speak quietly but powerfully to ideals larger than any single person or presidency.

This petition is not about opposing patriotism or rejecting the importance of America’s 250th anniversary. It is about protecting the integrity of public spaces that belong to all Americans, regardless of politics. A permanent monument built on public land should reflect collective values, not elevate one individual’s legacy above the rest of our shared history.

Decisions of this magnitude demand humility, transparency, and broad public consent. So far, the public has not been given clear details about the final design, costs, long-term impacts, or how such a project would coexist with existing memorials. Once built, there is no undoing the visual and symbolic consequences.

We are calling on Congress and the Commission of Fine Arts to block approval of any monument that prioritizes personal legacy over national meaning. We also urge the National Park Service and other reviewing bodies to uphold their responsibility to protect Washington, D.C., from projects that overwhelm its historic character.

America’s strength has never come from monuments that dominate. It comes from ideals that endure. Our capital should reflect unity, restraint, and respect for history, not excess or ego.

Sign this petition to tell our leaders that national monuments should honor the people, the Constitution, and the country’s shared story, not redefine them in one person’s image.

S
avatar of Eduardo L
avatar of Lynn G
Petition Advocates

1,464

Recent signers:
Kelly Shannon and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Update: A new legal challenge has been filed to stop the proposed "Arc de Trump"

A new legal challenge has been filed to stop the proposed monument.

Lawmakers and veterans are now asking a federal court to block the project, arguing it cannot move forward without approval from Congress under existing law.

This reinforces a key concern behind this petition: decisions that reshape our nation’s most important public spaces must follow proper process and oversight.

As this case moves forward, public voices remain critical.

If you believe our national landmarks should be protected and decisions like this should follow the law, please continue sharing and supporting this petition.

---------

America’s monuments are meant to honor shared history, sacrifice, and democratic values. They are not meant to serve as personal branding projects or symbols of individual power.

President Trump has announced plans for a massive “Independence Arch” in Washington, D.C., reportedly envisioned at up to 250 feet tall. If built, it would tower over some of the nation’s most revered landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial and the White House itself. The proposal comes ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary and has been framed by the White House as a bold expression of national pride.

But size alone does not equal meaning.

Architects, historians, and preservation experts have warned that a structure of this scale could permanently disrupt Washington’s carefully planned historic landscape. The nation’s capital was deliberately designed with balance, restraint, and symbolism in mind. Its monuments speak quietly but powerfully to ideals larger than any single person or presidency.

This petition is not about opposing patriotism or rejecting the importance of America’s 250th anniversary. It is about protecting the integrity of public spaces that belong to all Americans, regardless of politics. A permanent monument built on public land should reflect collective values, not elevate one individual’s legacy above the rest of our shared history.

Decisions of this magnitude demand humility, transparency, and broad public consent. So far, the public has not been given clear details about the final design, costs, long-term impacts, or how such a project would coexist with existing memorials. Once built, there is no undoing the visual and symbolic consequences.

We are calling on Congress and the Commission of Fine Arts to block approval of any monument that prioritizes personal legacy over national meaning. We also urge the National Park Service and other reviewing bodies to uphold their responsibility to protect Washington, D.C., from projects that overwhelm its historic character.

America’s strength has never come from monuments that dominate. It comes from ideals that endure. Our capital should reflect unity, restraint, and respect for history, not excess or ego.

Sign this petition to tell our leaders that national monuments should honor the people, the Constitution, and the country’s shared story, not redefine them in one person’s image.

S
avatar of Eduardo L
avatar of Lynn G
Petition Advocates

The Decision Makers

Commission of Fine Arts
Commission of Fine Arts

Supporter Voices

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Petition created on 2 February 2026